Thousands of private employees sacrificed Eid celebrations to serve their organisations without receiving any special compensation, Pakistan Today learned on Friday. People working in bakeries, hotels, restaurants, petrol pumps and amusement park expressed concern over the inhumane attitude of their respective organisations and said it was an open violation of the labour laws. As most workers in the provincial capital belonged to areas outside Lahore, they could not even meet their relatives and friends on Eid.
According to Factories Act 1934’s Article 49 I (2), “A worker may be required to work on any festival holiday but one day’s compensatory substitute holiday with full pay shall be allowed to him in accordance with the provisions of section 35”. Bakery workers said they merely got a weekly off day, and getting even a sick leave was like climbing a rock. They said the workload was greater during festivals such as Eid and it was a pity that most workers were not even aware of the labour laws that could compensate them. They said they wanted media to raise the issue and create awareness in public regarding labour laws.
Restaurant Area Manager Saad Karim said he was not permitted to reveal his organisation’s policy and avoided commenting on the issue.
Waiters and other restaurant employees also complained about their respective organisations saying their management always promised to give Eid bonus, but mostly it was a nominal amount which could never compensate for the sacrifice. They said they could not argue with the management as the job market was already very competitive. They said taking high tips on Eid was only an allegation; with rising inflation, people were reluctant to loosen their pockets to waiters. They also demanded respect from public and said working away from home on Eid was difficult and on-duty staff deserved gratitude.
A Park Plaza official told Pakistan Today their organisation paid full salary to its employees and it had every right to get the work out of them. She said the organisation paid a handsome amount to all workers and never delayed the salaries hence the employees never complained.
Fahad Khan, a worker at a fuel station in Muslim Town, told Pakistan Today: “We only get Eidi, neither a compensatory holiday is granted nor bonus for working on Eid. It is emotionally challenging to serve people all dressed up and going to greet their relatives, while we serve the public away from home and loved ones.” He also said government employees always got Eid compensations and bonuses but there was no such practice in private firms.
