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UNI Finance Global Union President Rita Berlofa assured unconditional solidarity support to Chaudhry Mohammed Farooq, Secretary General of Bank of Punjab Employees Union (BOPEU) in Pakistan in their struggle to enter in to a collective agreement in the bank.BOPEU President met Rita Berlofa, at the 4th UNI Apro Regional Conference held on 7-8th December 2015, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  More than 650 participants representing UNI affiliates from the Asia & Pacific region attended the conference.

Rita was surprised to note the Bank of Punjab management’s attitude, not to respond to the legitimate demands put forward by the BOPEU; as the collective bargaining agent authorized by the National Industrial Relation Commission in Pakistan.

Jayasri Priyalal, Regional Director  for UNI Apro Finance sector activities said; at the request of the BOPEU, UNI Apro Finance President Maskazu Tahara wrote to the CEO of the Bank of Punjab urging his intervention to respond to union’s proposal for a collective agreement on 10th February 2014.  Bank has ignored the request and not taken any meaningful measures to improve the industrial relation situation.

Pakistan has ratified ILO conventions 87 and 98, respecting freedom of association and right to collective bargaining, Bank of Punjab being a state owned bank, UNI Finance World President was dismayed to note the bank’s behaviour.

Rita Berlofa assured to lead a UNI Finance delegation to meet the Chief Minister of Punjab Province in Pakistan in early 2016 to seek his intervention to improve industrial relations in state owned banks in line with international labour standards during the meeting with BOPEU Secretary General, Farooq in Kuala Lumpur.

Refer to related files for UNI Apro Finance letter addressed to CEO of Bank of Punjab.