Kiln workers demand unemployment benefits
Scores of brick kiln workers demanded granting of unemployment benefits following closure of kilns manufacturing units under smog threat on Tuesday.
The workers also demanded provision of alternative livelihoods in case they are not financially compensated.
Labourers Kaloo Khan, Mehr Din and Noor Muhammad said brick kilns had stopped running in 2018 following smog emission which had put their lives on a critical stage.
They claimed that the same situation had surfaced this year as Punjab government had issued a fresh order of closing kilns from November 7 to December 31.
They explained that more than 200 brick kilns stopped functioning across the district, causing unemployment among hundreds of their workers who were already passing through the worst phase of financial crisis.
They added that about 25 to 30 labourers used to earn wages of not more than Rs400-Rs500 daily in a single brick kiln unit.
The workers lamented that the upcoming months may worsen their financial crisis after the closure of the brick kilns.
They demanded Punjab CM Sardar Usman Buzdar to listen to their needs and either compensate them through alternate employment or provide unemployment benefits to protect them from poverty and hunger.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 11th, 2020.