Activists demand regularisation of sanitary workers
Govt normally employs them on daily wages through contractors, with no job benefits
A photo of sanitary workers. PHOTO: SHAHID BUKHARI
KARACHI:
Human rights activists demanded on Monday that contractors register sanitary workers with social security institutions in order to allow them to receive the benefits laid out in social security laws, such as compensation of Rs500,000 in case of their death. They also said that these workers, often considered as 'untouchables' in society, should receive a budget allocation for their social wellbeing.
They were speaking at a conference, entitled "Stand Up for the Rights of Sanitary Workers," jointly organised by the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and the Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) to commemorate International Human Rights Day.
SHRC chairperson Justice (Retd) Majida Rizvi, who was chairing the conference, explained that the SHRC received many cases of sanitary workers who had to clean manholes without any safety kits. "SPO and SHRC are going to distribute 250 kits among sanitary workers in Hyderabad, but the main problems facing them include job security, wages and health insurance," she stated. "We want to ensure their rights and safety," she added, saying that the SHRC wanted to help design legislation for this and that it was carrying out research to uncover gaps in the existing laws.
Shortage of staff compromises patient care at Civil Hospital
"The Sindh government has formulated a compensation mechanism for these workers, but they have been unable to implement it," she noted, stating that her organisation was working to fix this.
Zulfiqar Shah, the joint director of the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research, highlighted the role played by sanitary workers in maintaining the environment. "If they stop working in protest, we cannot imagine the hardships the public would face," he pointed out. "The government should thus take the initiative in protecting them."
He stated that sanitary workers work under unclear legal frameworks and employment procedures. "Some of them are associated with the local government, while others work with municipal corporations, town municipal authorities and others, but their employment is not clear," said Shah, giving the example of the Water and Sanitation Agency in Hyderabad, which claims to only have 70 sanitary workers but has not hired more. "These workers are not regularly employed and they do not receive pensions or other benefits."
Sindh Labour Federation president Shafiq Ghauri said that the main demand for sanitary workers should be regularised employment with all the benefits that other employees enjoy. He pointed out that the government depended on contractors to hire these workers on daily wages, but it should regularize their jobs.
Speakers stress need to protect sanitary workers’ rights
"These contractors are not responsible when workers die or get injured on the job," he said. "Contractors should be bound to register these workers with social security institutions so they can access medical benefits." He maintained that in case of injury or death, the workers should be compensated with Rs500,000.
Saying that the welfare of workers should be prioritized, Ghauri also proposed that the corporate social responsibility funds should be used for their benefit.
Pirbhu Satyani, the regional head of the SPO, said that sewer workers, who cleaned deep manholes, were the most vulnerable of sanitary workers in Pakistan. He claimed that while such workers were provided with security measures such as vaccinations and safety kits around the world, these measures were missing in Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 11th, 2019.
Human rights activists demanded on Monday that contractors register sanitary workers with social security institutions in order to allow them to receive the benefits laid out in social security laws, such as compensation of Rs500,000 in case of their death. They also said that these workers, often considered as 'untouchables' in society, should receive a budget allocation for their social wellbeing.
They were speaking at a conference, entitled "Stand Up for the Rights of Sanitary Workers," jointly organised by the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and the Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) to commemorate International Human Rights Day.
SHRC chairperson Justice (Retd) Majida Rizvi, who was chairing the conference, explained that the SHRC received many cases of sanitary workers who had to clean manholes without any safety kits. "SPO and SHRC are going to distribute 250 kits among sanitary workers in Hyderabad, but the main problems facing them include job security, wages and health insurance," she stated. "We want to ensure their rights and safety," she added, saying that the SHRC wanted to help design legislation for this and that it was carrying out research to uncover gaps in the existing laws.
Shortage of staff compromises patient care at Civil Hospital
"The Sindh government has formulated a compensation mechanism for these workers, but they have been unable to implement it," she noted, stating that her organisation was working to fix this.
Zulfiqar Shah, the joint director of the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research, highlighted the role played by sanitary workers in maintaining the environment. "If they stop working in protest, we cannot imagine the hardships the public would face," he pointed out. "The government should thus take the initiative in protecting them."
He stated that sanitary workers work under unclear legal frameworks and employment procedures. "Some of them are associated with the local government, while others work with municipal corporations, town municipal authorities and others, but their employment is not clear," said Shah, giving the example of the Water and Sanitation Agency in Hyderabad, which claims to only have 70 sanitary workers but has not hired more. "These workers are not regularly employed and they do not receive pensions or other benefits."
Sindh Labour Federation president Shafiq Ghauri said that the main demand for sanitary workers should be regularised employment with all the benefits that other employees enjoy. He pointed out that the government depended on contractors to hire these workers on daily wages, but it should regularize their jobs.
Speakers stress need to protect sanitary workers’ rights
"These contractors are not responsible when workers die or get injured on the job," he said. "Contractors should be bound to register these workers with social security institutions so they can access medical benefits." He maintained that in case of injury or death, the workers should be compensated with Rs500,000.
Saying that the welfare of workers should be prioritized, Ghauri also proposed that the corporate social responsibility funds should be used for their benefit.
Pirbhu Satyani, the regional head of the SPO, said that sewer workers, who cleaned deep manholes, were the most vulnerable of sanitary workers in Pakistan. He claimed that while such workers were provided with security measures such as vaccinations and safety kits around the world, these measures were missing in Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 11th, 2019.