KP industrialists exploiting workforce, says labour leader

NOWSHERA: Muttahida Labour Federation on Monday said that 80 percent of the industrial units in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were exploiting the workforce.

Speaking at a press conference here, the federation’s provincial president Muhammad Iqbal said the labourers were underpaid and forced to work for 12 hours daily. He criticised the government for being unable to mitigate the sufferings of the labour class.

Muhammad Iqbal said the human rights organisations were also uninterested in highlighting the plight of the poor labourers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.He said the Labour Department had become dormant and failed to work for the welfare of the poor strata of the society.

The labour leader accused the department officials of taking bribe from industrialists to protect their interests and exploit labourers.He said the labour laws had been made ineffective due to the corruption of the officials at the department.

Muhammad Iqbal said that labourers were not given contracts, which was the main cause of exploitation. He alleged that workers were deprived of social security and other benefits.

He expressed concern at the failure of the government to check exploitation of workers at the industrial units.He alleged the Labour Department’s officials were harassing those industrialists who cared for workers and didn’t bribe them.

Muhammad Iqbal stressed the need for introducing legislation for protection of the rights of labourers in the province. He asked the government to enact laws to the benefit of the workers.

The labour leader said several workers of the Lucky Cement Factory, Kohat Cement Factory and other industrial units in Peshawar, Gadoon and Swat had been dismissed for raising voice for their rights.He threatened to launch protest if the demands went unmet.