PSM workers take to the streets

Police arrest protesting union leaders after ECC decision to lay off 9,350 employees

KARACHI: Workers of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) took to the streets on Thursday to protest the Economic Coordination Committee's decision to lay off 9,350 employees. They were reportedly met with a baton charge by the police, with several labour leaders arrested before later being released on the Sindh chief minister's directives.

Several workers' rights organisations, including the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Insaf Workers Union, took part in rallies organised at Steel Town Market. The workers announced that they would launch a movement against the federal government's decision.

Hundreds of protesters shouted slogans against the federal government's decision and tried to stage a sit-in at the National Highway. They were met by a heavy contingent of police and Rangers personnel, who clashed with them in an attempt to disperse the demonstrators.

The law enforcers also arrested CBA union chairperson Yaseen Jamro, information secretary Mirza Asif Baig, Progressive Union's Iftikhar Abbasi, Zahid Mukhtiar and 11 other labour leaders. They were later released on the CM's directives and no case was registered against them, according to a CM House spokesperson.

'Economic murder'

Meanwhile, responding to the ECC decision, Sindh Industries and Commerce Minister Jam Ikramullah Dharejo said that the federal government needed to consider that the closure of the PSM would be tantamount to the economic murder of thousands of families.

Dharejo argued that with the pandemic plaguing the world, there was a need to provide relief to working families but instead, the Centre was causing mental anguish and financial torment for the working class.

"PSM is a national asset and such an institution needs to be activated instead of being shut down; its activation could generate many employment opportunities," he contended.

He stated that the Pakistan Peoples Party condemned the anti-labour policy of downsizing in government institutions at all levels and demanded that the federal government provide maximum employment opportunities to reduce joblessness in the country.

"It is unfortunate that the federal government wants to sell government institutions and corporations to people it likes," he added.

Addressing the 'alarming spread of coronavirus' across the country due to the Centre's poor policies, Dharejo further claimed that hospitals were at capacity, with no more room for patients.

He said Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had repeatedly requested the federal government to take the pandemic seriously, but the Centre's "ego" had prevented it from heeding these requests.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2020.

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