Allhumdolillah! I am at a much better place since my last post with series of lab tests, utlrasounds, a mammogram and some other really scary tests, and a gut wrenching anxiety of results. I am doing well thankfully everything was clear except low iron levels with vitamin d3 deficiency. These deficiencies are now on their way to recovery. It is worth noting that I have been struggling with intense brain and physical fatigue since 2019 but not a single doctor was able to identify my problem. Once somebody is diagnosed with depression or anxiety then every health issue they complain about is looked from the psychological lenses. Nobody asked me to check iron, vitamin b12 or vitamin d3 deficiencies even my mum who is a dermatologist always assured me that I am fine and this weakness is just a phase. It was a phase alright, it engulfed almost 8 years of my life pushed back my career and research ambitions. This is not the case alone with me but there are many people who silentl...
I
always wondered from the days of my childhood as to why do we celebrate Labor
Day, there had been brief discussions and all of them gave me incomplete
overview. So I finally decided to look as to why we in Pakistan celebrate something which happened in
1800’s in the United States.
During 18th century
American workers toiled continuously for 12 hours seven days a week to earn
basic living. The working conditions of those laborers were not only unsafe but
they had no access to fresh air, sanitary facilities. 5 or 6 year old children
labored like adults within same time frame in factories, mills and they were
paid half as to what the older workers earned.
It was the time when Industrial Revolution was gaining momentum so the labor unions became visible, these unions demanded fair wages, safe working conditions, holidays and so on. After protests and some legislation Labor Day got recognized to commemorate efforts of all those workers.
It was the time when Industrial Revolution was gaining momentum so the labor unions became visible, these unions demanded fair wages, safe working conditions, holidays and so on. After protests and some legislation Labor Day got recognized to commemorate efforts of all those workers.
Socialist and communists also
celebrated their working class on May 1, so Americans chose to celebrate it on
the first Monday of September because they didn’t want to have any
identification with Communists.
Today we in Pakistan also
celebrate the Labor Day and I still wonder why? Why do we even bother because
the harsh work conditions which were prevalent in 1800’s in USA are still
very much present in 2012; however, now they have gone from bad to worse. People
who work in the industrial sector face far more horrid situations than their
counterparts in 1800. Children are still doing hardest kind of labor and also
getting all sorts of possible abuse and molestation.
The situation of white collar
worker is much more promising as they have better salaries, satisfactory work
conditions but the abuse of human is still evident when people work for 14 to
18 hours. However this hasn’t been a common practice in Pakistan
thankfully but unfortunately in many developed countries abuse of workers has
taken a different shape. The white collar worker in these developed countries
labors for 12-plus hours with hardly any breaks and for a lousy paycheck; in
addition most of them have to work two jobs to make their ends meet.
Few months ago in Japan people
who worked at the Stock Exchanges protested against the cut in their lunch-break
timing from 2 hours to 90 minutes. In Finland (it is a country known as
the happiest country in the world) people only work till four in the evening
and after getting off everybody either walk or on their bicycles head to the
eateries and to socializing.
Still the economies of these
countries are working perfectly. My point is that it’s not the long hours which
gives productivity but the healthy mental state and physical health of the
employees which makes the whole difference. If I am feeling good by taking
proper sleep, having time with family, eating decent meals then my efficiency
would be obviously tenfold.
This is my view some of you
ambitious types might have other opinions.
Best regards with many prayers for all the workers in this country.
Happy Labor Day!
Sonya. (Day 299)
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