KARACHI: Labour leaders at a rally against retrenchment of workers and violation of labour laws on Sunday termed the federal government’s recent ‘mini-budget’ ‘totally anti-worker’ and observed that it showed its leaning towards the rich.

The rally was organised by the National Trade Union Federation and Textile, Garment General Workers Union Korangi.

The labour leaders demanded that the government give an end to the continued retrenchment in factories, etc, and make sure all workers got regularised and given appointment letters.

They demanded all forms of contractual systems be stopped at factories and violators should be punished severely. Besides, action should be taken against the factories where workers were being forced to work for more than eight hours and denied weekly holidays.

They also demanded that harassment against women workers be stopped and vigilance committees be formed at every outlet with mandatory inclusion of a nominee from workers.

NTUF’s deputy secretary general Nasir Mansoor also called for ensuring health and safety arrangements at all factories as due to absence of those arrangements workers’ lives were under continuous danger.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2019