The forgotten miners of Khushab

Labourers of 150-year-old salt mine not registered with government

KHUSHAB: Khushab is among the districts of Pakistan rich in minerals where thousands of people are associated with the mining sector.

Salt, coal, gypsum, silica, limestone and sandstone deposits are present in the mountainous ranges and steppe hills, from which the government receives billions of rupees in the form of tax and profit.

The area spreads from Pail Padhrar Padra to Katha, Warcha, Soan valley, Quaidabad and Golewali. The most profitable mine is the Warcha Salt Mine which makes more than Rs 500 million annually.

Salt from he Warcha mine is famous all over the world for its excellent quality. It is owned by the Mineral Development Corporation of Pakistan.

This mine was launched in 1872 and labourers from many generations have been busy digging for there for about 150 years. But to date, the services of the workers have not been regularised nor have they been given rights as per the labour laws.

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They have not yet been registered with the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) by the government due to which they do not have access to medical, education and other facilities. Their children have been deprived of educational scholarships and dowry grants.

If  a labourer dies while working in the mine, his relatives are also not given the death grant by the Workers Welfare Board.

The workers facing a disability are also not compensated due to which they become helpless.

The labour law states that labourers cannot be excluded from these facilities. Hundreds of private factories have been set up in Quaidabad and its surroundings, which are making tiles, lamps and other showpieces from the salt.

There are also factories for salt extraction. This salt is supplied worldwide. Thus thousands of people are associated with the mine and its products. However, these workers are deprived of their rights.

The Punjab Minerals Development Corporation oversees private mines in the area, including those of salt, coal, gypsum, silica, limestone and sandstone.

Hundreds of coal mines also exist in the hills of Katha. There are several mines in Pail Padhrar as well. The owners of these mines include several political leaders of Khushab.

The private companies follow their own rules in violation of the country's labour laws. They also disregard hygiene practices.

There are no ambulances for workers, hence many of them have died due to delay in shifting to hospitals after accidents during work in the mines. Dispensaries have not been opened near the mines.

The owners of smaller companies have failed to provide even the basic facilities to the miners in the remote hilly area.

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Under the labour laws, when a worker comes out from a coal mine, it is necessary to take bath with warm water but even drinking water is not available in these areas.

An NGO named Help (Health Enjoinment Literacy Programme) conducted a survey that showed that 90% of Khushab district's workers are not registered at the government level. Miners and labourers working in factories have not had the facilities as per the labour laws for years.

Registration of EOBI could not be done due to the policy of mine owners and lack of interest of the government, which keeps the worker below unsafe as well as poor. They are also deprived of registration as labourers.

The president of Helping Hand Foundation said that he will raise voice for workers' rights. Labour leaders appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan to order registration of the miners of Khushab and fulfil their needs.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2020.