It seems that factories in Pakistan are kingdoms unto themselves. Many of them seem to operate on the lines of concentration camps where workers are denied their basic rights, which are enshrined in the constitution, in the country’s labour laws and in international conventions. Even a proper appointment letter is given, more often than not, as a favour and not as a rule, and those who are not employed, as per regulations, cannot claim privileges or even compensation in case of accident. The government seems to be too meek or too driven by the interests of factory owners and does not even try and implement the existing laws. A worker in any industrial enterprise seldom benefits from social security schemes for free medical facilities, Employee Old Age Benefit Institution, group insurance schemes and payment of overtime allowances, etc.
Similarly, in multinational and local companies, especially in the pharmaceutical sector, there seem to be no rules for the managerial cadre. People in the managerial cadre are often made to work for up to 12 hours a day, instead of eight hours. They remain totally cut off from their families. Their bosses in the company want only one thing, ie, profit and they are not considerate if their employee is seriously sick or wants to take his kids to a school for admission. In some companies, executives are sometimes sent on assignments to other countries for long periods every other month without any monetary benefits. All this shows that the working class in the industrial and commercial sectors is treated like slaves, not employees. It is the responsibility of the government and the political leadership of this country to consider this state of affairs and institute legislation that stops such unfair practices on the part of employers and ensures the rights of the working classes.
SQN LDR (RETD) S AUSAF HUSAIN
Karachi
