Power looms: Workers threaten to surround DCO office

Protesters dispersed after they were told that Labour Department officials will soon meet power loom factory owners.

FAISALABAD:

Power loom workers staged a demonstration against the owners of power loom factories on Sunday to press their demands for higher wages and restoration of sacked loom workers.

More than 100 power loom workers gathered on Allied Road in Ghulam Muhammadabad and burnt tyres, blocking the road for more than four hours. Labor Department officers arrived at the scene and assured the protestors that the issue would be resolved. The protesters dispersed after they were told that the Labour Department officials will soon meet the power loom factory owners.

Labour Qaumi Movement general secretary Aslam Meraj said that the protest had only been called off due to the assurance of the Labour Department officials.

He said if the department officials did not keep their promise of meeting the power loom factory owners on Monday, they would extend their protest across the province.

He warned that the power loom workers would wait till Monday and surround the office of the district coordination officer on Tuesday.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2012.