HARIPUR: A worker was killed after suffering burns at a steel manufacturing unit in Hattar Industrial Estate, police and labour department sources confirmed here on Friday.

The police said Abdul Wakeel, 36, an Afghan refugee, was busy in work at the steel mills, when a bucket carrying very hot liquid used for making steel bars fell on him on Thursday night, causing him critical burns.

They said the factory management shifted him to Wah Cantonment Hospital, but the doctors pronounced him dead.

When contacted, deputy director labour, Hazara division Faizullah Khan told Dawn he had visited the factory and gathered information about the incident. He said the factory management had immediately deposited with his office Rs400,000 as death compensation for the family of the deceased.

On April 10, a machine worker from Rawalakot district of AJK fell from a several feet high structure in a paper making unit breaking his leg. Later, he had died from excessive bleeding.

MEETING: Additional deputy commissioner, human rights and relief, Mohammad Abid has said the district administration is committed to rooting out the bonded labour and trafficking of children in Haripur.

He stated this while addressing a meeting of the district vigilance committee (DVC) here on Friday.

District public prosecutor Qasim Farooq, DSP investigations Sajjad Khan, labour inspector Hameedur Rehman, officials of social welfare department and civil society organisations were also in attendance.

Officials of prosecution and labour department told the participants that four cases of bonded and child labour were reported last month and the owners of two brick kilns and workshops were prosecuted under the child labour laws.

Mr Abid asked the participants to increase monitoring of brick kilns, workshops, and industrial units that were allegedly involved in engaging children in the manufacturing activities in violation of the law.

He said there was zero tolerance for child labour. He said besides punitive actions against the violators of laws, the DVC in collaboration with civil society organisations and labour department would arrange awareness sessions for the community, industrialists, brick kiln workers and owners and workshop owners.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2023