More than 50 industrial workers who were allegedly sacked by a biscuit manufacturer in Haripur have threatened to protest if their dues are not cleared by September 15.
The workers lodged a written complaint to the Haripur labour department deputy director through a four-member committee representing the workers.
The panel raised objection to the actions taken by Coronet Foods to lay them off without paying their gratuity, notice pay, bonus and pay allowance. According to the panel, termination letters had not been formally issued to the workers and the guards had simply been told not to allow them onto the factory premises.
They said the workers’ request to be allowed entry was also refused even though they had factory cards to prove their employee status.
A labour department official confirmed that the workers have lodged the complaint and requested the department to intervene. He added the demands of the workers are legal.
“If it is proved that they are workers of the said factory, the management will be asked to pay their dues to avoid litigation,” the official said.
Unfair dismissal?
According to an insider at the biscuit manufacturing unit, the industrial workers are actually employees of a private labour contractor. They had not been unfairly dismissed but stopped coming to work of their own volition.
The source revealed the senior management has met the labour department. After the meeting, the factory management asked the four-member committee to visit the factory to verify the workers’ records. The management is ready to pay their dues once their legal rights are established, he said.
Rights violation
According to Qamar Hayat, the executive director of Sahara Foundation, an NGO working for the rights of industrial workers in Haripur – most industries in Hattar have hired the services of labour contractors. He added the arrangement did not provide adequate protection because factory owners could easily choose to disregard their obligation to protect the workers.
However, there is a silver lining. After a recent ruling on such arrangements by the Supreme Court, factory owners are the principal employers and owe a duty to respect the rights of their workers even if they have been hired by labour contractors.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 10th, 2014.
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