ISLAMABAD: The protesting Dandot Cement Factory workers were assured on Tuesday that the Senate standing Committee on Human Rights would take up their issues, including post-retirement benefits and jobs for their children.

As many as 600 factory employees were holding a sit-in outside the National Press Club for the last two days.

The factory was established in 1983 by the government of Pakistan but later it was privatised in 1992.

On Tuesday, National Party Senator Mohammad Tahir Bizinjo visited them as a mark of solidarity and suggested them to write an application which will be referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights.

“Pakistan People’s Party Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar heads the committee and most of the political parties have representation in the committee. I will hand over the application to the chairman and I am sure that he will take up the issue at all concerned forums,” he said.

One of the employees Kazim Kamal, who retired in 2009, while talking to Dawn said that he could not get benefits of retirement even after 12 years.

“The factory was closed 13 months ago due to which as many as 350 employees became jobless and there are 250 retired employees who could not get post-retirement benefits since 2007. We have reached Islamabad as no one listen to us in Dandot,” he said.

President of the Employees Association Malik Nusrat said that the employees have decided to continue their effort to get their due rights.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2020