Workers’ bodies slam Centre over volte-face on privatisation

Say it has been 'murderous' towards workers

KARACHI: As part of countrywide protests organised by the he Awami Workers Party (AWP) and Pakistan Trade Union Federation (PTUF), a demonstration against the privatisation of the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), Pakistan Railways, Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and the sacking of over 11,000 polio workers was held outside the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday.

Speaking at the protest, PSM Trade Union Alliance convener and PSM Progressive Union president Akbar Narejo maintained that, "not only is the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government deceitful, it is also murderous towards workers," adding that, "this party [the PTI] garnered votes by pretending to oppose privatisation, particularly that of the PSM." He said that Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar, who previously was seen siding with workers and opposing privatisation, had now completely changed his tune.

Also speaking on the occassion, SSGC Insaf Jafakash Union president Muhammad Ayaz said that when they approached the court on the matter of SSGC contractual employees, who had been working for company for 20 years, Insaf Jafakash Union workers were sacked, demoted and transferred. "At every crucial turn, the federal government stood by the management," alleged Ayaz.

Additionally, Railway Workers Union general secretary Sahibzada Amjad Ali Khan claimed that as all institutions were being run on the instructions of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, Pakistan Railways was surely headed towards destruction.

Kaneez Fatima of PTUF urged the protestors to fight for their rights, stating that "now is the time for all workers to unite and wage a countrywide struggle against privatisation, against forceful sackings, against the contractual employment system and against the anti-people budget."

Towards the end of the protest, AWP Karachi president Shafi Shaikh, announced that "the attack on the PSM is not just an attack on one institution, but an attack on each and every worker of Pakistan and the country's economic stability." He demanded that privatisation of the PSM be stopped immediately and democratic control of the institution be passed onto its workers.

He also demanded that all polio workers be restored to their posts, SSGC employees be regularised and the decision to fire the "so-called excess workforce" in Pakistan Railways be reverted.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2020.