KARACHI: Leaders of trade unions of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) and Jamaat-i-Islami’s (JI) Karachi chapter have demanded the federal government take back its decision to retrench 9,350 employees of the mills.

They said at a demonstration organised by Pakistan Steel Labour Union (PASLU) to protest against the mills’ privatisation outside Karachi Press Club on Monday that their protest would compel the government to withdraw its decision, said a press release.

Karachi JI emir Hafiz Naeemur Rahman said that if the decision was not taken back, they would use all legitimate means of protest and even move court to have it withdrawn.

He said that though Supreme Court had been provided “incorrect” information on PSM he still hoped it would serve justice to employees. The court was requested to take into account all aspects of the case to save PSM employees from starvation.

He said that no government in past and present had taken serious interest in running this national asset and expressed reservations over the government’s golden handshake scheme for the mill employees. “There are reports that PSM is being handed over to Italy, Poland or Israel,” he said.

PASLU president Asim Bhatti said that they would not accept privatisation of the mill or any step in that direction.

JI Karachi naib emir and head of PSM restoration committee Dr Osama Razi said that unity of all worker unions on a single platform for their common right would definitely bear fruit.

National Labour Federation (NLF) Pakistan vice president Zafar Khan said the government would have to take back the decision or get ready for its downfall.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2020