ISLAMABAD, Aug 6: A civil society organisation has criticised what it said state repression against powerloom workers in Faislabad and unjust treatment of temporary labour appointment (TLA) workers in the Railway Carriage Factory, Islamabad.

A resolution was passed at a meeting of political workers and trade unionists held at the office of People’s Rights Movement (PRM) which demanded the release of all arrested powerlooms workers, immediate increases in the wages of all powerlooms workers as well as a regularisation of all TLA workers in the carriage factory.

Speaking on the occasion, Aasim Sajjad of PRM said the government was protecting the interests of the employers as evident from the recent legislation increasing the working time to 12 hours.

However, the exploitation of formal sector workers is still limited compared to that of non-permanent employees in the powerlooms sectors and those in state enterprises like railways.