THROUGHOUT the world, sanitation workers perform some of the most vital services that make daily living possible for everyone else. But in Pakistan, they continue to be the most marginalised, overlooked and ill-treated workforce. Born into their ‘roles’ by virtue of a cruel caste system — which may not exist on paper, but continues to be perpetuated in the minds of the people and employees — most sanitation workers use their bare bodies to collect and clean up filth underground, away from the eyes of polite society. And they often do so without any protective equipment, shoes or clothing, making them susceptible to a host of diseases and injuries. Since they ‘inherit’ their occupation, as if this is just what they are ‘supposed’ to do, most do not receive any formal training. In August, 30-year-old Rafiq Masih died while he was cleaning a storm-water drain in Landhi, Karachi, while his colleagues fell unconscious from inhaling toxic fumes. Earlier, in 2017, 28-year-old Irfan Masih was rushed to a government hospital in Umerkot after inhaling poisonous fumes. He tragically died after being refused treatment by doctors at the Umerkot Civil Hospital because he was deemed ‘unclean’. Like Rafiq and Irfan, many other workers continue to die due to society’s collective neglect and prejudice.

At a recent press conference in Karachi, activists bemoaned the poor treatment and lack of rights suffered by sanitation workers. They demanded that the government regularise their jobs, as many had been working on a contract basis for years, and grant them safety equipment and health insurance. They also highlighted how two recent laws — the National Sanitation Policy 2016 and the Sindh Sanitation Policy 2017 — did not take the workers into the fold and resultantly made no mention of them. As mentioned by the activists, it is imperative that the voices of sanitation workers be heard. They have been rendered invisible for far too long. Their struggle is not just for rights, but respect at a very basic level.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2019