HYDERABAD, April 29: The All Pakistan Trade Unions Organization (APTUO) has condemned the sacking of all the permanent employees of the Khoski Sugar Mills.

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, APTUO president Maula Bux Khaskheli, deputy general-secretary Bashir Ahmad and other union leaders said the Faran Sugar Mills had also dismissed 426 employees without any reason.

They said the sacking of permanent employees by sugar mills showed that mill owners wanted to get rid of permanent employees and hire employees on contract and daily wage basis to deprive workers of their rights under labour laws.

They said on the one hand mill owners were violating laws and dishonouring court orders and on the other the government was claiming that it was taking steps to control unemployment and setting up more industries.

The union leaders regretted that following the promulgation of the Industrial Relations Ordinance, 2002, workers even could not seek relief from the court of law against their dismissal from service.