March, 22 2005	Tuesday	11 Safar 1426

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FAISALABAD, March 21: Powerloom workers, including women and their children, on Monday took out a rally in protest against non-implementation of the labour laws in factories and non-provision of benefits to workers. The protesters also staged a sit-in outside the District Government Complex and chanted slogans against the labour department officials and other authorities concerned. They blocked traffic on Circular Road and Kutchery Road and marched through various city roads by carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands.

About a dozen children of the workers participated in the rally with dry breads around their necks.

The rally started from Zila Council intersection and reached the Clock Tower where labour leaders addressed the participants.

They said powerloom workers were forced to work in factories in highly unhygienic conditions and at very nominal wages. About 90 per cent of the powerloom units have no system of enrolling their workers with the Social Security Department which was a stigma on the face of district and provincial governments, they added.

They demanded that the wages of labourers should be enhanced according to the price spiral, workers should be registered with the government departments like Social Security and Old Age Benefit Institutions.

They said an agreement between the labourers and the factory owners was signed during a meeting presided over by the district Nazim in July last for the provision of basic rights to workers. But it has not yet been implemented due to negligence of the officials of the labour department.

Meanwhile, the hunger strike of about two dozen labour leaders and powerloom workers entered into seventh day here on Monday. But none of the government officer or the elected representative has so far visited the camp.

The protesters vowed to continue their protest movement and the hunger strike till the acceptance of their demand.

They threatened that in case their demands were not accepted within next couple of days, they would besiege the office of district Nazim and the DCO.