LAHORE, Jan 24: The Pakistan Workers Federation has urged the government to ensure social compliance and protection of rights of workers employed in sports industry in Sialkot.

Addressing a press conference along with Sialkot Saga Workers Union secretary-general Sardar Rehmatullah here on Wednesday, federation secretary-general Khurshid Ahmed said jobs of 7,000 labourers were at stake following unilateral cancellation of the football import contract by Nike due to failure of the Saga management in social compliance.

Hundreds of workers had already been issued termination notices. Such a large number of jobs would not have been threatened in case the management had abided by the international practice of social compliance.

They appealed to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to use his diplomatic influence for restoration of the football import order by Nike and convincing it to get footballs stitched by machines to eliminate possibility of use of child labour.