Protecting workers

This refers to the editorial, 'Protecting workers' (March 31). I am writing these lines feeling a sense of guilt. Why did it not occur to any of us till now to think about our low-paid and overworked sanitary workers, who are involved day and night dealing with the garbage of entire cities? We see them on our roads and streets every day, without any protective gear whatsoever. As rightly pointed out in the editorial, these individuals are highly vulnerable, being poor, working on a contract basis and without any medical or other facilities. We do read about their accidental deaths from time to time, while cleaning drains, gutters and manholes – without any protective equipment.

One thing which we may say is good and has come out of the coronavirus scare is that it has forced us to look around and pick up any missed opportunities, which were accidentally ignored. As an ordinary Pakistani, I would like to second the desire expressed by the editors in this editorial of making sure that all sanitary workers are properly screened, and provided with protective gears.

M Masud Butt

Lahore