Accord rekindles hope for sacked workers

In a much-needed breakthrough, an agreement reached between the Chinese firm holding the contract for the Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project and a local labour union breathed new life into the careers of sacked contractual employees of the consortium on Monday.

Around 200 local contract employees of the T-5 project were terminated after the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and the Power Construction Corporation of China Ltd (PCCCL) refused to renew their contracts.

The negotiations, spearheaded by the WAPDA Consultancy Firm and involving the company administration and the labour union have successfully paved the way for reinstating the workers and revitalising their employment prospects.

Sources privy to the development revealed that during the agreement, it was decided that the laid-off workers will continue working in their previous positions until June 18, 2023. Meanwhile, instead of hiring new employees, the company will try to adjust these workers in other departments. They said some employees will be reinstated in their respective sections.

According to sources, the HR office will scrutinise the workers and adjust them in positions according to their work experience.

After the negotiations, the labour union's general secretary informed all the protesting workers about the success of the talks. The union and local political circles have expressed satisfaction with these negotiations and demanded that local youth be employed instead of hiring labour from far-flung areas.

The move had left the fired employees and their families worried about their future.

Protesting the termination of their service, the employees had said they would never accept the unilateral action that has been taken in violation of labour laws.

WAPDA has awarded $354.6 million worth of contract to Power Construction Corporation of China Ltd (PCCCL) for civil works of the 1,530MW Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project.

The affected individuals and their families requested Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources Chairman Senator Pir Sabir Shah to look into the matter and put an end to their mental agonies.

According to sources, the fired employees had alleged that after the appointment of newly appointed project director Chief Engineer Waseem Raza, they have been dismissed from their jobs and replaced by employees from brought from far-flung areas.

They said with the appointment of the new chief engineer, hundreds of employees were hopeful that working conditions would improve for them, but instead of doing something for their welfare, he dismissed them with a single stroke of the pen.

When contacted, the dam administration said that the dismissal of the employees has nothing to do with the newly appointed project director. The sub-contractor has not renewed the contract of the employees upon the expiry of their contracts.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2023.