Fight for rights: Factory workers protest for fifth consecutive day

Demand an end to violation of labour laws.

HARIPUR:

The factory workers of Novason Pack Industry, a polypropylene film manufacturing unit in Hattar Industrial Estate, continued their strike for the fifth consecutive day. The protest has been organised against the alleged violation of labour laws by factory owners and their “discriminatory attitudes” towards the workers.

The protesters set up a camp outside the factory on Hattar Road, where they went on a hunger strike as a mark of their protest.

The workers refused to perform their duties despite the management’s attempts to negotiate with them. They said the government had fixed Rs7,000 per month as the minimum wage for working eight hours a day, and every additional hour would be paid in double their hourly wage.

The protesters said that they were forced to work for 12 hours a day, while they were paid only Rs8,200 per month instead of Rs12,000.

They said the factory management had also deprived the workers of their right to social security, Employees’ Old-Age Benefit Institution cards and letters of appointments, which made them entitled to the rights prescribed by the labour laws.

Meanwhile, the factory management refuted the claims of workers, adding that none of the workers had been sacked, except for Supervisor Taswar, who was dismissed for violating discipline and misusing his power for personal interest. The authorities also said they had not violated any labour laws.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2011.