Flouting labour laws: Women brick kiln workers demand minimum wage payment

Protesters plead the CJ to take notice of violation of labour laws at their workplace.

LAHORE: Women workers at brick kilns were in action on the International Women’s Day when they participated in a rally, demanding that the government ensure implementation of the minimum wage policy.

The rally, organised on Thursday by the Bonded Labour Liberation Front (BLLF) in collaboration with ActionAid Pakistan, took place at the Lahore Press Club.

The workers, led by BLLF’s general secretary Ghulam Fatima, chanted slogans against the government as well as brick kiln owners. They demanded that, under labour laws, they should be paid Rs517/thousand bricks they produced but currently, they receive only between Rs200 and Rs250.

“We demand the chief justice of Pakistan to take note of violation of labour laws in brick kilns,” Fatima said, adding that the government must take steps to implement laws upholding worker rights.

She also said that besides the assurance of payment of a minimum wage, facilities such as social security, a dowry fund and medical expenses should also be paid.

Mahar Safdar Ali, project manager at the Support Social and Decent Work, said that the project aimed at securing rights for workers including the issuance of computerised national identity cards.