HYDERABAD, Nov 15: Over a dozen sacked workers of the Fateh Apparel Limited and Fateh Weaving Limited staged a march against non-payment of their outstanding dues.

The march, which began from the Haider Chowk, terminated in front of the local press club.

The protestors, while criticising the factories’ management, said the owners of the two factories had shifted their businesses to Dubai about seven years ago without paying the dues of 400 workers.

Speaking at a news conference, the president of the workers’ action committee, Shafiquddin, said that for the past seven years they had been trying to get government help in securing the payment of their dues.

He added that the government officials, including those in the labour department, appeared to be powerless before the owner.

Sirajuddin, son of late Abdul Jabbar, said that his father had died four year ago and he had won a claim amounting to Rs100,000 from the labour court but this amount had not been paid to him.

Abdul Hameed said that he had also won a case from the labour court for payment of his outstanding dues, worth Rs42,000, but the factory owner had refused to pay this amount.

Referring to the low turnout of the protestors, Shafiquddin said that the workers had become disheartened over the past many years and in their despair, they were unwilling to spare time or energy for their rights.

He also accused the manager of one of the factory, Liaquat, and the cashier, Saleem, of having threatened the factories’ workers of dire consequences if they staged any protest demonstration.