SAHIWAL: More than 100 loaders stopped working in protest against low wages paid to them by commission agents of the Chichawatni grain market on Saturday.

They demanded 40 to 45 percent increase in their wages under section 66, Rule (d) of the Punjab Agricultural, Produce Markets (General) Rules of 1979.

Muhammad Shahid, president of the Mazdoor Ittehad Union, told reporters commission agents paid to a loader Rs15 to 16 for lifting 40 kilogrammes of an agriculture produce whereas under the rule, they should be paid from Rs25 to 26. He said they conveyed their grievances to agents and market committee officials several times but to no avail.

Loaders offer different services to handle agriculture produces in the market and each service, different rates were described in the rules.

Rules provide 0.20 of the value of the produce on loading and unloading, 0.30 percent for packing and packing a bag and 0.10 for raking up the produce into a heap.

Mr Shahid said they stopped working for five hours on Saturday but they would go on a day-long protest if their demands were not met.

Chichawatni Market Committee secretary Mahmood said they did not receive any complaint from laoders.

He said he came to know that the labourers gave an application to the commission agents’ president. “So, the Market Committee cannot help them unless they approach us,” he added.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2018