LAHORE: The chief minister’s compensation package for heirs of workers who died in the Sundar factory collapse has put authorities in a quandary about how to fund the package, which is above and beyond the limits set in relevant laws.
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had visited the collapsed factory in Sunder Industrial Estate last Wednesday and announced financial assistance of Rs2 million for heirs of each deceased worker.
An official said under the law -- the Punjab Workmen Compensation Act, an employer is bound to pay Rs400,000 in case of death of a worker while on duty.
On how to arrange the remaining funds -- Rs1.6 million, Punjab Labour Minister Raja Ashfaq Sarwar convened a meeting of authorities here on Tuesday. But it was postponed for Wednesday as representatives of a number of provincial departments could not turn up due to other ‘pressing’ engagements.
A labour laws expert says a senior member of the Board of Revenue as relief commissioner enjoys discretionary powers to grant as much financial assistance as needed, so there should be no problem for the authorities concerned to grant aid promised by the CM.
Labour activists are, however, dissatisfied with the aid amount, saying it is much less than what is prescribed in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions and a ‘pick-and-choose’ policy is being used in this case.
ILO Conventions demand factors such as whether one is the only breadwinner, remaining productive life of a deceased worker, education and health cost of children of workers be considered while calculating compensation.
Labour Education Foundation Director Khalid Malik says the ILO-compliant compensation amount goes up to Rs4 million and refers, as an example, to payment of Rs3.2 million to heirs of each of the five victims of a Kot Lakhpat textile unit collapse a couple of months ago. The textile unit paid the amount as it was a supplier of some known brands exporting their products to the US and Europe, he adds.
Malik also regrets the alleged discrimination workers in the payment of compensation.
“Victims in incidents that get media attention are paid better, while others are ignored.”
The government announced Rs2 million in aid for the Sundar victims, but no such compensation has been given to the five workers who died on duty in a Jallo Morr steel mills fire incident, he points out.
Meanwhile, Minister Sarwar said in a statement that the labour department will use digital and mobile technologies to streamline labour inspection procedure, engaging software engineers for designing the required application.
He directed district labour officers to complete online registration of industrial units transferring inspection reports to a centralised database in real time and acquire structure stability certificates along with affidavits from all factory owners regarding safety of buildings of all industrial estates till Dec 31.
Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2015