SARGODHA: Hundreds of workers from the local stone-crushing industry demonstrated outside the DC office, demanding an increase in wages and saying that until their demand is accepted, they will stop excavation of stones.

Hill Workers Union Chairman Hafiz Abdul Rahman led a sit-in outside the DC office.

Hill labourers in Pul 111 Stone Crushing Market went on strike after their wages were not increased.

Mr Rahman and General Secretary Tariq Javed Wadigar, addressing the protesters, said that due to the anti-labourer policies of leaseholders and crusher owners, the working class has been forced to starve.

They said their per trolley labour is Rs1,500 but they are paid Rs1,140. They demanded that leaseholders enhance the wages so that the workers could earn a respectable livelihood. They threatened if their demands were not met, they would set up a hunger strike camp in front of the DC office.

The leaseholders of hills and owners of stone-crushing units called off their weeklong strike after negotiating with the DC and now the labourers are on strike, and there is an immense danger to the crushing industry.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2023