Workplace security: Workers protest after colleague’s death

Protesters gathered in front of the factory and chanted slogans against factory owner for not maintain the machines.

FAISALABAD:

Scores of power loom workers on Thursday staged a demonstration after one of their colleagues died from an electric shock at work. They later dispersed after a settlement between the factory owner and the heirs of the deceased. 

The protesters, all workers of a factory in Qadirabad Chowk in Ghulam Muhammadabad, had stopped working after the incident. They gathered in front of the factory and chanted slogans against the factory owner for not maintain the machines.

The deceased, Basharat Ali, was a father of three. Protesters said he was working with a machine, when he received the shock and fainted. He died before he was taken to a hospital.

The protesters said the factory owner had not installed circuit breakers that had increased the risk of electric shocks. They demanded that the police arrest the factory owner. Qaisar Babar Cheema, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz labour wing district president, also joined the protest. The Ghulam Muhammadabad station house officer visited the scene. He assured the protesters that action would be taken if the owner was found responsible.

Later the police called a meeting with the family of the deceased and factory owner Muhammad Rauf. A compromise was made between the two parties in presence if the PML-N labour wing district president.

Rauf assured the witnesses that he would look after the children of the deceased till they reached majority.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2013.