Compensation mechanism draws ire of Baldia factory fire victims’ heirs
They reject ILO’s decision of reimbursement through SESSI
Saeeda Khatoon said the payment was meant to compensate the families for the income that they have been deprived of since they lost their breadwinners in the fire. Unfortunately, the victims were kept in the dark throughout the meetings. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN
KARACHI:
Representatives of Ali Enterprises Factory Fire Affectees Association (AEFFAA) rejected the International Labor Organisation’s (ILO) decision of reimbursement of compensation through Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (Sessi). They demanded compensation in lump sum in cheques through the Sindh High Court (SHC).
AEFFAA Chairperson Saeeda Khatoon put forward these demands while addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club along with the association’s president, Jabir Khan and vice-president, Muhammad Moosa. They also staged a protest outside the club.
No rest for Sindh’s labourers
Khatoon said that the German company, Kik, which was the major buyer of the products made at the ill-fated factory paid, though after a long struggle, USD5.15 million in September last year under an agreement. The money is with the ILO. She added that after the agreement in which Kik, ILO, IndustriALL Global Union, Clean Clothes Campaign and others were involved, the victims were told that the mechanism to distribute the money will be devised after having meaningful consultations with them. Four months later, a delegation of ILO and other parties visited Pakistan and held formal and informal sessions and meetings with the victims. In those meetings, the victims had firmly told the fact-finding mission that they wanted the money to be paid in lump sum in cheques through the SHC. This, said Khatoon, is not only the transparent process but the victims are also familiar with it.
“We were requested by the ILO to take part in the meetings while we were informed that the suggestions, recommendations and reservations would be taken care of,” she said. “The victims, hoping that they will be listened to, attended the meetings and presented their proposals but their voice was never heard.”
Home-based workers step out of homes to celebrate working women
The report prepared by the fact-finding mission did not contain the suggestions and reservations of the victims, she said, adding that victims do not agree with the recommendations made by the mission in the report.
She added that the payment was meant to compensate the families for the income that they have been deprived of since they lost their breadwinners in the fire. Unfortunately, the victims were kept in the dark throughout the meetings. They were never told that the distribution of money would take place in instalments through Sessi. They came to know about this in the later stages, raised voice against it and rejected it. Khatoon mentioned that in May this year, an ILO delegation visited the country again and told them that compensation will be paid in monthly instalments through Sessi.
'Workforce will have no option but to revolt unless rights are given'
The victims insisted that they should be informed about the amount of the monthly instalments, said Khatoon. After showing some hesitation, she added, the ILO representatives finally told them that the parents of a deceased victim will be given Rs2,800 while the spouse will be given Rs9,000. The amount for the injured will be decided on the basis of their medical examination report.
According to Khatoon, the irony is that most of the workers killed in the fire were unmarried and their parents and siblings depended on them. How would they make both ends meet with Rs2,800 per month, she asked, adding that ILO has still not answered the question.
Land of Inventors: Germany's travelling exhibition comes to Karachi
Meanwhile, the victims held another meeting on May 7 to discuss the issue. They rejected the ILO suggestions to pay them the money in instalments through Sessi. They also wrote a letter to the ILO country director, appraising the chair about the victims' reservations. A reply is still awaited, said Khatoon.
Talking about Sessi, Khatoon said the victims have strong reservations. She said the victims have been suffering from problems rampant at Sessi for the past four years. The institution is meant to help the workers but in reality, it never does so. The officers there would not listen to the victims' problems and shut their doors on them, she said. Having been the victims of Sessi, we cannot trust this institution to be a caretaker of our money, she added.
Contempt of court: SHC issues notices to Sindh IG, police authorities
Later, the heirs of the victims protested, shouting slogans against Sessi and ILO and demanding that their compensation be reimbursed directly in lump sum cheques.
Representatives of Ali Enterprises Factory Fire Affectees Association (AEFFAA) rejected the International Labor Organisation’s (ILO) decision of reimbursement of compensation through Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (Sessi). They demanded compensation in lump sum in cheques through the Sindh High Court (SHC).
AEFFAA Chairperson Saeeda Khatoon put forward these demands while addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club along with the association’s president, Jabir Khan and vice-president, Muhammad Moosa. They also staged a protest outside the club.
No rest for Sindh’s labourers
Khatoon said that the German company, Kik, which was the major buyer of the products made at the ill-fated factory paid, though after a long struggle, USD5.15 million in September last year under an agreement. The money is with the ILO. She added that after the agreement in which Kik, ILO, IndustriALL Global Union, Clean Clothes Campaign and others were involved, the victims were told that the mechanism to distribute the money will be devised after having meaningful consultations with them. Four months later, a delegation of ILO and other parties visited Pakistan and held formal and informal sessions and meetings with the victims. In those meetings, the victims had firmly told the fact-finding mission that they wanted the money to be paid in lump sum in cheques through the SHC. This, said Khatoon, is not only the transparent process but the victims are also familiar with it.
“We were requested by the ILO to take part in the meetings while we were informed that the suggestions, recommendations and reservations would be taken care of,” she said. “The victims, hoping that they will be listened to, attended the meetings and presented their proposals but their voice was never heard.”
Home-based workers step out of homes to celebrate working women
The report prepared by the fact-finding mission did not contain the suggestions and reservations of the victims, she said, adding that victims do not agree with the recommendations made by the mission in the report.
She added that the payment was meant to compensate the families for the income that they have been deprived of since they lost their breadwinners in the fire. Unfortunately, the victims were kept in the dark throughout the meetings. They were never told that the distribution of money would take place in instalments through Sessi. They came to know about this in the later stages, raised voice against it and rejected it. Khatoon mentioned that in May this year, an ILO delegation visited the country again and told them that compensation will be paid in monthly instalments through Sessi.
'Workforce will have no option but to revolt unless rights are given'
The victims insisted that they should be informed about the amount of the monthly instalments, said Khatoon. After showing some hesitation, she added, the ILO representatives finally told them that the parents of a deceased victim will be given Rs2,800 while the spouse will be given Rs9,000. The amount for the injured will be decided on the basis of their medical examination report.
According to Khatoon, the irony is that most of the workers killed in the fire were unmarried and their parents and siblings depended on them. How would they make both ends meet with Rs2,800 per month, she asked, adding that ILO has still not answered the question.
Land of Inventors: Germany's travelling exhibition comes to Karachi
Meanwhile, the victims held another meeting on May 7 to discuss the issue. They rejected the ILO suggestions to pay them the money in instalments through Sessi. They also wrote a letter to the ILO country director, appraising the chair about the victims' reservations. A reply is still awaited, said Khatoon.
Talking about Sessi, Khatoon said the victims have strong reservations. She said the victims have been suffering from problems rampant at Sessi for the past four years. The institution is meant to help the workers but in reality, it never does so. The officers there would not listen to the victims' problems and shut their doors on them, she said. Having been the victims of Sessi, we cannot trust this institution to be a caretaker of our money, she added.
Contempt of court: SHC issues notices to Sindh IG, police authorities
Later, the heirs of the victims protested, shouting slogans against Sessi and ILO and demanding that their compensation be reimbursed directly in lump sum cheques.