KARACHI: Discount Workers, a documentary made by two film-maker covering different aspects of the struggle of the people affected by the 2012 Baldia factory fire incident had its Pakistan premiere at the Arts Council of Pakistan here on Sunday.

Directed by German film-maker and lawyer Christopher Patz and award-winning Pakistani film-maker Ammar Aziz, the documentary has been screened internationally at film festivals in Berlin, Prague, Calcutta, Istanbul and as well as at the United Nations in Geneva.

It tells the intimate story of the transnational struggle of the Baldia factory workers and their families for justice from local courts to a German court and other international forums.

It reveals how the garment workers were in fact producing jeans for a German company and that they initiated legal proceedings against the company for its role in not helping to prevent the tragedy. The families also initiated court proceedings against an Italian factory auditing company for its role in certifying the factory as fire safe just weeks before the incident.

The film follows Saeeda Khatoon of the Association of the Affectees of Balida Factory Fire as she travels to the courts in Germany and despite losing the court proceedings, she finally travels to the United Nations to demand new laws which hold international brands accountable and grant victims access to justice.

Sunday’s event, which was organised by the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF), was attended by victims’ families, fire survivors, labour leaders and film critics.

NTUF general secretary Nasir Mansoor said: “This film highlights the desperate need for a Pakistani accord, like what exists now in Bangladesh — a binding agreement between international brands and trade unions in order to improve conditions in the factories.”

Patz and Aziz, the films co-directors, said: “The struggle of the Baldia families and workers is becoming known internationally. From Berlin to Calcutta, their powerful story is inspiring audiences to stand with them and demand respect and dignity for workers.”

Karamat Ali of the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research said that on March 25, 1911, a big fire erupted in a textile factory in New York, but hundreds of thousands of citizens took to the streets and resultantly many laws were made to improve working conditions.

Zehra Khan of the Home Based Women Workers Federation said that the documentary had helped raising awareness and the German parliament also made a law that the companies would be legally responsible if working conditions were not proper in factories anywhere in the world that make goods for their brands.

Faisal Edhi of the Edhi Foundation said that there were two nations: the rich and the poor. He said the poor should be united to safeguard their rights.

Lawyer Faisal Siddiqui said that due to the struggle of the Baldia factory victims, many milestones had already been achieved. He said Pakistani courts ensured payment of compensation to affected workers and their families within four years.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2022