SHEIKHUPURA: Punjab Labour Federation president Akram Naz has said various factories in the district are involved in blatant violations of labour laws and rules regarding the child labour.

At a press conference here on Wednesday, he said these factories had employed children from the age of 8 to 12 years for over 14-hour jobs for Rs5,000 to Rs6,000 per month only.

He said under the labour laws, any person below the age of 18 years was not allowed to work in a factory or any other organisation, but most of the pharmaceutical units, ice cream manufacturers, hosiery items manufacturers, glass factories etc had employed the under-age workers.

He deplored that these under-aged workers were denied overtime dues and other benefits.

Mr Naz alleged the factory owners were exploiting workers in connivance with some black sheep in labour department who were making millions by protecting them.

He urged the labour secretary and other high-ups of the department, besides the district administration to conduct surprise raids on these factories, mostly located on Lahore-Jaranwala-Sharqpur road and Faisalabad road to check these illegalities.

Meanwhile, an NGO, Shirkat Gah, with the collaboration of Umeed Foundation, organised a seminar in a local hotel against child labour.

Beenash Dar, who presided over the event, said at an age when children should go to school and play with their friends they were forced to work at roadside tea stalls and auto workshops for the whole day for just Rs100.

She urged philanthropists and the government to play their roles for curbing child labour.

ROBBERY-MURDER: A woman was shot dead by three unidentified men on raising the alarm during an alleged robbery bid in Kot Abdul Maalik on Wednesday.

Sania Bibi was alone at her house when three armed suspects dressed as Wapda employees broke in and started collecting valuables. Bibi shouted for help at which the suspects opened fire, killing her instantly.

Factory Area police were looking into the mater.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd , 2014