BUSINESSES are thriving, owner and employers are generating profits and living lavish lives. This is not because of the latest equipment but because of the employees, who execute operations.

Their safety needs to be first priority of employers. Unfortunately, there is no body to consider it important. I don’t know why still nobody is taking actions of the hazards employees encounter during their duty hours. We have horrific incidents like Baldia factory fire, Gadani shipbreaking yard blast, and gas explosion and the recent coalmine incidents.

In most cases, the deceased were the sole bread-winner of their family. The recent coalmine incidents in Balochistan’s Marwar and Sor areas are deplorable.

If action is not taken to ensure workers’ safety, then I don’t think the GSP plus status given to Pakistan by European parliament for duty-free access of Pakistani exports to the EU will sustain.

Saddam Kiazai

Kalat

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2018