Mediamentary - The Home of International Media: June 2014

Activity Report

June 16, 2014 at Aiwan-e-Quaid Auditorium, Islamabad

Homenet Pakistan organized First Domestic Workers Convention in the history of Pakistan on 16^th of June, 2014 at Aiwan-e-Quaid Auditorium, Islamabad in coalition with Plan Pakistan.

The following persons were hosting the event:-

1. Fozia Akhtar (Project Manager, Plan Pakistan)

2. Saima Sarwat (Program Manager, Homenet Pakistan)

3. Saman Farhan (Project Officer, Homenet Pakistan)

The following persons were the panelists:-

1. Umme Laila Azhar, Executive Director, Homenet Pakistan

2. Shaheena Kausar, General Secretary, Women Workers Union

3. Ms. Iffat Jamil, Program Manager, Plan Pakistan.

4. Salman Yousaf Khan, Advocate High Court and Ex-Candidate Member National Assembly, NA-48, Islamabad.

5. Ms. Farkhanda, Ex-Director General, Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan.

6. Ms. Zahida, President Women Workers Federation.

7. Ms. Saima, President Domestic Workers Union.

8. Khadija Ali, Advocate and Domestic Workers Activist.

Participants:-

The participants were domestic workers from Islamabad and Rawalpindi and personalities from social sector organizations...

The Event:-

The convention started at 3:00 pm and ended at 06:30 pm. An introduction to the convention was given by Ms. Saima Sarwat from Homenet Pakistan. It was the occasion of third anniversary of ILO C-189 on 16^th June, 2014 on which this convention was hosted.

Ms. Iffat Jamil from Plan Pakistan was invited over the stage. She gave a brief introduction about Plan Pakistan. She thanked people who supported the idea to support domestic workers in Pakistan.

Ms. Umme Laila Azhar was invited over the stage. She pointed out that there are around 74% domestic workers in Pakistan with having no rights at all. She informed the participants about the new law on domestic workers tabled in the senate of Pakistan. She further intimated the gathering about the efforts of Homenet Pakistan in the law making for Domestic Workers in Pakistan. She further stressed the need to involve employers in the process of law making for domestic workers.

Ms. Saima, president domestic workers union from Islamabad highlighted the problems faced by domestic workers in the line of duty.

Ms. Khadija Ali was invited over the stage. She discussed the gaps in the new law tabled in the Senate of Pakistan.

Mr. Salman Yousaf Khan appreciated the efforts done by Senator Osman Saifullah for tabling the domestic workers bill in Senate. He shared the features of Domestic Workers Bill, 2013. Salman Yousaf Khan further gave recommendations keeping in view the needs and circumstances of domestic workers in Pakistan. He further stressed on the need of imposition of Article 25-A for free education to the children of Domestic Workers. Similarly he stressed on the need to ensure social security, medical and welfare of domestic workers. He added that criminal proceedings in cases of domestic workers shall be the subject matter of dispute resolution committee so made in result of the act to be passed. He raised the need to establish a quasi-judicial system of courts for domestic workers. He pointed out that according to section 6 of the bill; the domestic workers are required to enter into contract with the employers. He stressed that there shall be an institution with whom the domestic workers as well as the employers shall enter into a contract. He further stressed on the need to insert detailed provisions in the bill regarding the process of union registration for domestic workers, domestic workers welfare board’s functioning and looking after the affairs of domestic workers, dispute resolution committee’s composition and functionality, appellate forums composition and functionality. He finally thanked the domestic workers and motivated them with some poetry of Allama Iqbal for continuing their struggle for their rights.

Ms. Zahida from Women Workers Federation came and emphasized on the need to strengthen up the movement of domestic workers so that they get their due rights.

Ms. Shaheena Kausar from Women Workers Union stressed that the domestic workers shall be given training regarding the sexual harassment issues. She stressed on the need to train domestic workers for availing remedies if any offence happens under section 509 of Pakistan Penal Code. She further motivated the domestic workers with slogans for their rights.

Ms. Farkhanda, Ex Director General Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan focused on creating ombudsman for domestic workers like the way ombudsman were created in result of harassment laws.

Outcome

A movement in proper direction for the rights of domestic workers has been given a voice through this event internationally. It was a movement initiated by Homenet Pakistan in coordination with Plan Pakistan which has taken a shape due to the efforts of many who participated in this convention. It was the first ever domestic workers convention in the history of Pakistan which showed solidarity and commitment of struggle with domestic workers in the times to come.

The Convention successfully ended with a commitment to move further with positive efforts by all the participants.

The End

This Report is Prepared by The Pleaders Trust

The Famous Roosevelt Hotel In New York City Is Owned By Pakistan

Wow, I did not know this until recently; The famous Roosevelt hotel which is shown in famous hollywood films as The French Connection, Hanky Panky, Quiz Show, Boiler Room, Maid in Manhattan and 1408 is owned by no one else but the Pakistani Government! Shocking indeed but very interesting. It is infact owned by Pakistan International Airlines [PIA], which is owned by the Pakistani Government. Here's a brief history of the Roosevelt hotel with some useful links and facts as well as some pictures of the hotel.

History:
The Roosevelt Hotel was at one time linked with Grand Central Station by way of an underground passage that connected the hotel to the train terminal. Guy Lombardo performed “Auld Lang Syne” for the first time in the hotel’s Roosevelt Grill, and Lawrence Welk began his career at the Roosevelt Hotel. From 1943 to 1955 the Roosevelt Hotel served as the New York City office and residence of Governor Thomas E. Dewey. Dewey's primary residence was his farm in upstate New York, but he used Suite 1527 in the Roosevelt to conduct most of his official business in the city. In the famous 1948 United States presidential election, Dewey, his family, and staff listened to the election returns in Suite 1527 of the Roosevelt; in the election Dewey lost to incumbent President Harry Truman in one of the greatest political upsets in American history. Since 1979, the hotel had been leased by thePakistan International Airlines through its investment arm PIA Investments Ltd., with an option to purchase the building after 20 years. Prince Faisal bin Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia was one of the investors in the 1979 deal. In 2005, PIA bought out its partner in a deal that included the prince's share in Hotel Scribe in Paris in exchange for $40 million and PIA's share of the Riyadh Minhal Hotel (a Holiday Inn located on property owned by the prince).

After a major $65 million renovation, in July 2007 PIA announced that it was putting the hotel up for sale for $1 billion. It was reported that the property would be marketed by New York-based real estate company Cushman & Wakefield.
Facts:

There are a total of 1,015 rooms in the hotel, including 52 suites, one of which (the Presidential Suite) has 3,900 square feet (360 m²) with four bedrooms, a kitchen, formal living and dining areas, and a wrap-around terrace.
The rooms are traditionally decorated, with mahogany wood furniture and light-colored bed coverings.
The "Roosevelt Grill" serves American food and regional specialties for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The "Madison Club Lounge" has a 30-foot (9.1 m) mahogany bar, stained glass windows and a pair of fireplaces. There is also a cafe (Ferraras Cafe).
The Roosevelt has 30,000 square feet (2,800 m2) of meeting and exhibit space, including two ballrooms and 17 additional meeting rooms ranging in size from 300 – 1,100 sq ft (100 m2). It offers a business center which provides Internet access, fax services, secretarial services, copy services and shipping services.
Other services include a concierge, a 24-hour fitness center, safety deposit boxes, valet laundry, valet or self-parking, and 15 retail tenants, including a Bostonian Shoes.
The New York City hotel opened on September 22, 1924. The hotel closed in 1995 and reopened in 1997 after a $65-million extensive renovation.

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