Daily wagers have termed strikes in the financial hub a blessing and claim they get jobs easily on such occasions as many people who get off-days from their workplace due to deteriorating law and order approach them for work.
The city witnessed many strikes called by religious parties for showing their power that paralysed the trading and industrial activities in the city but there were some who got jobs on such occasions. These were daily wagers who could be seen sitting at roads in search of work to earn their livelihood by putting their lives in danger.
They claimed that shutter-down or wheel-jam strikes had become order of the day in the metropolis but they could not afford even a single day without wages as they needed to get back to their homes with some money to run their kitchen.
They have decided not to sit at homes amid deteriorating law and order in the city as they have to pay off for daily use items everyday. Having instruments in hands, a large number of house painters, constructors, masons and sanitary workers from the slum areas appeared on the city roads and roundabouts for earning their bread and butter.
Being daily wagers, they remain available for work even when public and private institutions announce holidays due to strikes to save their employees from any untoward situation.
A mason sitting at Liaquatabad No 10 bus stop told Pakistan Today that he could not afford a single off-day due to his poor financial condition. “My name is Siddique and I am resident of Bhangoria Goth. I am mason by profession and sitting here in search of a customer. I have three siblings and I live in a rented house. Despite deteriorating law and order, I can not afford a single off-day because I am the only bread winner of my family. If I get a customer, I can earn Rs 300 in a day,” he added.
A house painter sitting beside the mason said: In Karachi, there is strike every week, and now it has become the city of power holders. They call strike when they want to show their power. Sometimes the political parties and traders announce just to get their demands accepted by the government. However, sometimes we get benefit due to closure of city as many customers approach us for work,” Yousuf added.
