Protest: Kiln workers demand raise

Labour Qaumi Movement central sec says kiln workers to go indefinite hunger strike if demands not met within 24 hours.

FAISALABAD: Hundreds of kiln workers on Saturday staged a protest demonstration to press their demand for a raise in wages.

Talking to the media, Labour Qaumi Movement (LQM) central secretary Aslam Meraj said the kiln workers were yet to get their legal rights despite “repeated assurances by the government.” “The laws say that the workers should get a minimum of Rs740 for 1,000 bricks… at present they are only getting Rs300 to Rs350,” he said. Meraj said the workers had approached Law Minister Rana Sanaullah but their requests were ignored.

He said workers should be paid fair wages, have health insurance, and get death grants, marriage grants and educational facilities.

The protestors including women and children gathered at Zila Council Chowk and blocked the road for traffic. Meraj said the kiln workers would go an indefinite hunger strike if their demands were not met within 24 hours.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2014.