RAHIM YAR KHAN, Sept 25: A workers’ union has alleged that a multinational company, engaged in the service sector, has started “downsizing” of its permanent staff (working at their local plant) with the help of police and has also got registered cases against the protesting employees.

Khalid Shahzad, president of the employees union, told a press conference on Tuesday the company had deployed the police on the factory premises to, what he claimed, harass the permanent employees and forcing them to accept a golden handshake scheme.

He said the company started its business in 1947 from Rahim Yar Khan with Rs20 million. Now, the company owns factories in Karachi, Khanewal, Lahore and Rahim Yar Khan. Mr Shahzad claimed the company earned Rs2.5 billion profit yearly because of its employees’ efforts but instead of rewarding them, it wanted to sack them.

He said that in 2005, of 400 permanent employees, 150 were dismissed in Rahim Yar Khan. He said the company hired employees on a contract basis that was not acceptable to the union.

He said the administration had terminated the services of security guards but on their refusal to accept termination, the administration called the police on Sept 23. Police arrested the security staff and forced them to resign from their posts, he said, adding the issue was about workers’ welfare which could only be solved through a dialogue with the CBA. He demanded that charge-sheets against the permanent employees be withdrawn.

CBA general sectary Saeed Zaman said that works manager and human resource manager had adopted “anti-labour policies”. He demanded the withdrawal of cases against the staff and restoration of the staff. He alleged that a bank officer had misused his powers against employees and sided with the administration.

He said that they would close all their accounts with the bank immediately. He condemned the involvement of police in company matters.