Power loom workers feel the crunch

A series of demonstrations, strikes and sit-ins by power loom workers to mark their protest against poor working conditions and low wages has surprised one and all. It is a pity that Faisalabad, which has earned a good name for its textile production, is now not considered to be an ideal working place for power loom labourers. A vast majority of the labourers is not being paid legitimate emoluments.

A fortnight ago, scores of labourers were baton-charged and many others implicated in different cases while lodging their protest in this regard. The workers complained that they were being paid only Rs75 each daily for 12-hour work. There was no concept of any weekly holiday or casual leaves in case of an emergency, they added.

The labourers said they were forced to work round the clock during peak days by the owners of the power looms. Besides, these power looms were not conducive for working for lacking proper ventilation, light, security and emergency medical arrangements. "Nor is there any system to protect workers from cotton dust, which is the main cause of chronic diseases like asthma and tuberculosis."

Hundreds of power loom workers from the Jhang Road, the Narwala Road, Ghulam Muhammadabad and Faizabad, demonstrated and staged a sit-in outside the district Nazim's office to press the government and their employers to increase their wages and offer them fringe benefits.

They marched through different city roads and rushed to the district council, carrying banners and placards emblazoned with slogans in favour of their demands. They also blamed the police for "playing in the hands of power loom owners and harassing them."

The labourers demanded action against those policemen, who tortured Power loom Workers Ittehad President Asif Khan Lodhi at the behest of the power loom owners.

Instead of tackling the matter sensibly, the police opted for the typical course of action and implicated Mr Asif, along with Anjum Niaz, Waseem Niaz, Tariq Javed, Rana Shafaqat Ali, Manzoor Ahmad, Shahbaz Ahmad and over 50 other power loom workers and their leaders.

According to a police report lodged by a factory owner, Arif Javed, a group of armed people led by Asif Khan dashed into his factory and forced the labourers to leave the premises.

The mob also resorted to aerial firing. The police registered a case against the labourers and their leaders under section 7-Anti Terrorist Act, 16 MPO, 337-H, 148 and 149 of the PPC, and arrested Asif Khan and Shahbaz Ahmad from their houses.

Reacting to it the labourers belonging to Samanabad, Nisar Colony, Ali Town, Maqsoodabad and other adjoining areas also staged demonstrations in the city and blocked traffic on main roads.

They iterated their demands, including raise and withdrawal of the contractual system in power loom units. The situation was mishandled and the 'peaceful' workers were ruthlessly baton-charged by a police team, headed by SP (City) Abdul Mateen.

The police tortured them physically and picked up nine protesters, including Abdul Jabbar, who were shifted to the Factory Area police station. However, no case has been registered till last reports came in.

Some of the protesters pelted stones on the police party near the TB Hospital Chowk, but the officials remained unhurt. The social security and old-age benefit institutions, which are supposed to enlist the units employing 10 or more workers, have failed to deliver.

The power loom sector in Faisalabad was firmly entrenched as a significant weaving sector of the country and it contributed as a hinterland supply line for fabric exporters of Karachi two decades ago.

The city was also known as a fort of the working class and the culture of strikes and demonstrations, disruption of industrial peace and commercial activities remained confined to labour courts, compensation commissioner and labour welfare department during the last three decades. However, the current trend of the workers taking to streets is very alarming at this juncture when implementation of the WTO regime is not very far.