Financial straits : Labour union lashes out at factory owners

Say workers have not been made permanent even after their probation period

MINGORA: The leaders of Swat Ittefaq Labour Union lashed out at factory owners in the district and officials of the labour department. As per the union members, their demands to make them permanent employees and issue Employees Old Benefit Institution (EOBI) cards have been swept under the carpet by the relevant authorities.

“Swat has over 50 factories where plastic, cosmetics and silk is manufactured by more than 1,800 labourers,” Swat Ittefaq Labour Union General Secretary Zainul Abideen said at a news conference at Swat Press Club on Sunday. “Of the total labourers, 80% are working on a daily wage of Rs300. Although they have completed their probation period of three months, they have yet to be made permanent employees.”



He added the government has implemented proper laws regarding the rights of labourers.

“However, nothing has been done in practice for them,” he said. “The owner of one of the factories has usurped the rights of labourers. Factory workers are in dire need of the government’s attention and support to solve their issues.”

Falling on deaf ears

Also present on the occasion, Swat Ittefaq Labour Union President Abdul Wadood said, “The factory owners use employees of the factories for their own benefit and do not do anything when it comes to their [the latter’s] rights.”



He added the factory owners have colluded with the labour department officials that has led to labourers facing financial issues.  “Many complaints have been made to the labour department regarding the rude and unprofessional behaviour of the factory owners,” Wadood said. “But officials of the department have never responded to the complaints.”

He added the labour department has turned a blind eye to the plight of the labourers.

A large number of labourers have submitted application for the issuance of EOBI cards, but officials of the labour department have yet to comply with the demand.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2016.