Kiln workers want pay raise

Hundreds of kiln workers led by LQM staged a protest demonstration seeking raises in wages

FAISALABAD:

Hundreds of kiln workers led by Labour Qaumi Movement (LQM) on Saturday staged a protest demonstration seeking raises in wages and other benefits.The protesters, including a large number of women and children, marched from Dhobi Ghatt to Commissioner’s Office.

The demonstrators gathered at the Commissioner’s Office and staged a sit-in there.

LQM chairman Baba Abdul Lateef Ansar told newsmen said that despite repeated assurance by the government officials, kiln workers were still not being paid their wages.

He said the government had set the minimum wage for kiln workers at Rs888 per 1,000 bricks.

He said the law had not been enforced in over four months since the notification was issued.

Ansar said government officials were contact several times and were informed about the situation.

“We have also requested officers of the Social Security Department and the Labour Department to issue social security cards to kiln workers and implement the wage notification but they have ignored us,” he said.

Ansar said kiln workers would go on a hunger strike for an indefinite period if the government did not take action to resolve their demands.

The protesters chanted slogans against the government and urged the chief minister to take notice of the situation.

An assistant commissioner reached the scene and assured the protesters that their issue would be taken up by senior official and resolved amicably.  On this assurance, the kiln workers called off their protest and dispersed peacefully.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2014.