Delivered death

Fast-food outlets offering home delivery services across major cities have made life more convenient for all of us and many restaurants have followed suit, but when we call in, do we consider the situation of the boys on motorbikes who bring the boxes of pizza or bags packed with other goodies to our doorsteps? A report in this publication has described the hazards they face, pitted against chaotic traffic and hard-to-meet deadlines. More and more of the 1,500 or so delivery boys in Karachi have faced accidents. Some have escaped with bruises and cuts; others have been disabled for life. We do not know what the fate of some may have been or if there have been deaths in the line of duty.

Delivery services bring the haves face to face with the have-nots. The interaction is not always a pleasant one with bike riders sometimes facing the ire of employers and customers. Their situation is a reminder of the need for more unions which can persuade employers to set up medical insurance schemes to offer delivery men some protection and to ensure realistic expectations are set in terms of the delivery time. The awareness of the right to form a labour union has declined over the decades and many see such a path as a dangerous one, given the possibility of an instant dismissal from service.

As a society we need greater sensitivity to the different categories of people who form it. The grant of respect or the recognition of dignity should not depend on status. Sadly, this is not the case. We see instances of the failure to treat the less privileged as equal citizens. Those hiring exploit the desperation of job-seekers in times of growing unemployment. This means that the divisions in society are growing wider and wider. The trend is an unhealthy one and will lead to a growth in the problems we confront.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2010.