Working conditions: Kiln workers say notified wages not enforced 10 months on

LQM says the govt officials have ignored their requests


Our Correspondent June 27, 2015
LQM says the govt officials have ignored their requests. PHOTO: AFP

FAISALABAD:


Scores of brick kiln workers led by Labour Qaumi Movement (LQM) on Saturday staged a demonstration seeking enforcement of minimum wages as notified by the government.


The protesters gathered in front of the DCO’s office and staged a sit-in there.

Holding banners and placards, they blocked University Road for traffic.

Addressing the participants, Labour Qaumi Movement’s (LQM) Baba Abdul Lateef Ansari said the government had the set minimum wage for kiln workers at Rs888 for 1,000 bricks. He said a notification in this regard had also been issued. He said kiln workers were not being the paid wage set by the government. “We have complained about the situation to the Labour Department and the district government but they have not taken any steps to enforce the rules,” he said.

He said kiln workers had been calling for payment of notified salaries for 10 months but no one had taken steps to resolve the problem.

Ansari said a number of meetings had been held with the DCO, the CPO, the commissioner and public representatives.

“They all made promises but did not keep them,” he said. He said exploitation of kiln workers must end.

He said kiln workers would stage a demonstration in front of the office of the labour secretary if the notified wages were not paid by July 1. He said they would boycott work across the division.

Later, a representative of the DCO’s met the protesters and assured them that the matter would be taken up with senior government officials and resolved soon. The protesters dispersed on receiving the assurance.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2015.

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