Govt urged to consult unions on privatisation

Workers hold protest outside LESCO Headquarters.


Press Release May 14, 2015
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan secretary general IA Rehman and Awami Workers’ Party chairman Abid Hassan Minto addressed the protesters. PHOTO: REUTERS

LAHORE: LESCO workers ended their protest against privatisation on Thursday.

According to a statement issued by the All Pakistan WAPDA Hydro Electric Workers Union (CBA), a demonstration was held in front of the LESCO headquarters.

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan secretary general IA Rehman and Awami Workers’ Party chairman Abid Hassan Minto addressed the protesters.

“It is a constitutional obligation of the state to ensure provision of basic needs including electricity, transport, education, health and employment. The workers are essential stake holders in public utilities. The government has a duty to consult representative trade union instead of taking unilateral decisions on privatisation of electricity companies,” they said.

“The government should learn from the experience of past privatisation of essential industrial units,” they said.

Minto appealed to workers to strengthen the labour movement, dismantle the outdated economic system and defeat the privatisation policy of the government.

Khurshid Ahmed, general secretary of the union, said: “Instead of privatising the companies, the government should introduce administrative reforms to improve their efficiency. The distribution companies that have been handed over to the private sector have not made any profits.” The protesters passed a resolution, vowing to continue to their struggle. A similar demonstration will be held in Faisalabad from May 18 to 21.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15th, 2015. 

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