SWABI: Sacked workers of a multinational tobacco crushing company here on Wednesday were not allowed to resume work despite the National Industrial Relations Commission (NIRC), Islamabad, had stayed the termination of 131 employees by the firm a day earlier.

The Mehnat Kash Union had filed a petition with the NIRC through its president Abrar Ullah and general secretary Nihar Ali, demanding that the terminated workers be reinstated immediately by the company.

The NIRC order says that “the respondents are directed to maintain the status quo (services of the workers be kept till the next date of hearing). But, the fired labourers said they were not allowed to resume work.

The stay order, a copy of which is available with Dawn, asked the respondents to file their reply on December 8 before the NIRC, Peshawar bench.

Talking to Dawn Nihar Ali said they also met provincial Minister for Labour and Mineral Development Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli in Peshawar the other to raise the issue of workers’ termination. He said the minister directed the provincial labour director to find a negotiated settlement of the dispute between the workers and the management of the company.

Mr Ali said if the talks option didn’t work, the workers would continue their hunger strike.

He said the workers would not comprise on their rights.

LACK OF HEALTH FACILITIES: People and local government representatives complained about lack of facilities in the district hospitals and basic health units during a programme conducted by TV anchorperson Syed Talat Hussain here on Wednesday.

The programme was arranged by an NGO and people belonging to different regions, including the backward Gadoon Amazai mountainous region, participated in it. They complained that BHUs lacked staff, equipments and medicines, stressing people out. They said the BHUs usually remained closed for unknown reasons.

TWO KILLED: Two people were killed and five injured in separate road incidents on Wednesday, police said.

Two young motorcyclists collided on Marghuz-Bamkhel road due to over-speeding, injuring them seriously. They were shifted to the district headquarters hospital, where Taimur Ahmad succumbed to his injuries. The injured biker was named Israr Khan.

In another incident, an auto-rickshaw and a car collided near Kalabat bust stop, killing one Abdullah who was travelling in the car, and injuring five other people.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2015