KARACHI, Aug 5: About 1,500 to 1,700 jobless workers of Dadu Sugar Mill and Thatta Sugar Mill were re-employed this week by the Sindh government. The workers were rendered jobless after the state-owned mills became sick about eleven years ago. Those re-employed also include 80 employees of the officer grade in two mills.

The workers came to the Sindh industry ministry on Saturday to collect their ‘relieving letters’ thereby implying end of their jobs with the Sindh Sugar Corporation. They were directed to report to the services and general administration department for new postings. Workers mostly from lower to middle cadre will be posted in towns and cities of their domicile.

The ministry premises at the Sindh Secretariat presented a busy scene on Saturday, with the mill workers coming to collect their ‘relieving letter’ essential to report to the services and general administration department. The workers are required to present a proof of their employment with the defunct sugar mills.

The ministry sources put the number of affected workers at 2,000 to 2,500. But there is no method to find out the exact number, which will depend on the number of workers turning to collect new letters.

They have been promised new jobs after an undertaking that their jobs will be fresh and they will not demand salary for the period the two mills remained sick. According to workers estimate, the collective salary bill of all workers runs around Rs10 million.

Dadu Sugar Mill became sick about 11 years ago while Thatta Sugar Mill fell redundant eight years ago.

Workers gave special credit to Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Senior Minister Syed Sardar Ahmed and Industry Minister Adil Siddiqui for the end of their ordeal that stretched over a long period of eleven years.

The worst ordeal suffered by workers was marked with hunger strikes and sit-ins in front of the Karachi Press Club and protest demonstrations at the Governor House and Chief Minister’s House.

Recalling tribulations caused by a long spell of joblessness, the workers said that some of their colleagues committed suicide having failed to make both ends meet, while others survived on small odd jobs and ‘precious help’ from their families.

The Sindh industry ministry is considering applications for new sugar mills in the province, which if permitted, would be able to consume services of these workers having skill in sugar trade.