The Karachi Development Authority (KDA) Labour Union affiliated with Pakistan Peoples Party has formally requested the Joint Director Labour, South Division, Karachi, to initiate the process for a new referendum to determine the Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA) for the Karachi Development Authority.
In a letter to Joint Director Labour the union General secretary, citing Section 24, Subsection 2 of the Sindh Industrial Relations Act (SIRA) 2013, highlighted that the mandated two-year period since the last referendum, held on March 6, 2023, has elapsed.
“As per SIRA 2013, a referendum has to be conducted in an establishment after the completion of two years,” the letter stated.
The union also emphasized that the certificate of the current CBA was issued following the 2023 referendum.
The KDA Labour Union has submitted a list of members, asserting that it represents more than one-fifth of the establishment’s workforce, a prerequisite for triggering a new referendum.
The letter urged the Joint Director Labour to expedite the process for conducting the referendum at the earliest.
“We request you to kindly initiate processing for conducting the referendum in the establishment of Karachi Development Authority at the earliest,” the letter read.
The outcome of the requested referendum will determine which union will hold the collective bargaining rights for the KDA employees for the next two years.
