HYDERABAD, Feb 2: The Fundamental Rights Commission of Pakistan has expressed grave concern over the violation of the basic rights of the workers of the Zeal Pak Cement Factory (ZPCF), Hyderabad.

It demanded of the federal government to ensure encashment of the cheques issued to the employees and to take legal action against the former manger administration, Mohammad Hassan Hashmani, and former general secretary (CBA), Mushtaq Qadri, for defrauding the workers.

While speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Saturday, the coordinator of the commission, Abdul Jabbar Rehmani, said that the plight of the employees of the factory had already been brought to the notice of the chief executive, federal minister for law and justice, Sindh Governor and the Sessions Judge, Hyderabad, but the workers were still waiting for justice.

Mr Rehmani said that on Dec 10, 1999, the factory administration and the then CBA union under an agreement had announced to relieve 587 permanent employees under the golden handshake scheme. It was not a voluntary scheme but was thrust on the poor workers under which each worker had to fill up a form.

He said that the workers had rejected the agreement but those who had accepted the scheme and were given cheques of the golden handshake amount and gratuity were defrauded as the cheques were dishonoured by the MCB.

For the last two years the workers had been trying to encash their cheques but in vain. Not only this, but the provident fund amount paid to the workers was also less than the total amount and the profit on the provident fund was also being misappropriated by the factory management and the CBA union, he said.