Agitation: Brick kilns shut down across country against GST imposition

Labourers caught between a rock and a hard place.

ISLAMABAD:

Brick kiln owners across the country on Tuesday went on strike for an indefinite period against the imposition of 16 percent General Sale Tax (GST) on their business.

They had announced on July 30 to stop the supply of bricks from August 2 in protest against the imposition of General sale Tax (GST) on bricks.

Sohaib Khan Niazi, President All Pakistan Brick Kiln Owners’ Association (APBKOA) told The Express Tribune that kilns were closed across the country for indefinite period against the government decision. “Yes 18,000 brick kilns from across the country have shut down in protest against the imposition of GST.’’ he said.

He said that the brick kiln lobby had been trying to get the decision reversed for over two months, but to no avail. “We tried our best through dialogue and finally we have shut down our kilns to force the government to listen to us.” he added.

The All Pakistan Brick kilns Workers Union (APBWU), expressed serious concern against the decision to close kilns and termed it is unjust.

President All Pakistan Brick Kilns Workers Union Punjab, Wasif Khan said that kiln-owners lobby has its own vested interest, “Due to the closure, as many as 3.2 million workers have been affected and will not be able to earn a livelihood.”  He said that in majority of the brick kilns, owners do not pay wages to their workers.



Published in The Express Tribune, August 3^rd, 2011.