A large number of labour union workers staged a protest rally on Wednesday and demanded acceptance of their right to collective bargaining agent and regularisation of contractual employees.
According to details, a large number of workers of a car manufacturing company staged a protest rally under the banner of National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) that marched from Regal Chowk to Karachi Press Club (KPC) against the administration of their factory for allegedly not accepting their right of collective bargaining agent of the company’s trade union in Karachi. They demanded to restore the sacked secretary general of the union and regularise the jobs of contractual employees.
A large number of workers belonging to different industries participated in the rally which was led by the NTUF Sindh chapter. Holding banners and placards, they raised slogans against the factory administration.
Addressing on the occasion, the protesting labourers said that the industrialists of private sector had been violating the labour laws and rights. “Sadly, the corrupt officials of the labour department are supporting these industrialists. The apathy of the rulers can be seen from the fact that the province with the largest labour population is being run by an unelected adviser, and this province has even no labour minister. In this whole process, the industrialists have been given a free hand who have virtually stopped making unions in private sector industries.”
“The workers are being harassed. Unions’ right of CBA is not being accepted in factories, and instead pocket labour unions are slapped over them. Real representatives of the workers are being harassed and threatened. The industrial area of SITE is the worst example in this regard where minimum wages, fixed working hours, health and safety and the right to make unions has practically finished.”
