WITH regard to the report titled `Mining firms violate labour laws, basic rights of Tharis` published in these columns on April 29, 2017, the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) has issued the following clarification: The SECMC has said that `out of 1,630 employees the company has hired so far, 63 per cent belong [to] district Tharparkar, 27pc [to the] rest of Sindh and 10pc [to the]restofPakistan.

`The hiring of local human resource from Thar is done under Khushaal Thar (KT) programme through a very competitive and transparent mechanism.

The SECMC spokesperson has said that `KT was established by Thar Foundation under the umbrella of SECMC with [the] sole purpose to give opportunities to the local people of Thar.

`All the job applicants are registered in a database with their level of education and skills and they are further referred for jobs to SECMC`s Engineering & Procurement Contractors (EPC) and subcontractors on `First In, First Out` basis.

`In one of the recent recruitment campaigns, 25 young Thari Trainee Engineers were selected from all around Tharparkar who underwent a thorough screening process two months ago.

`The minimum wage, weekly rest days, eight hours` duty, overtime against extra worked hours, appointment letter issuance with group life insurance coverage to all skilled staff, entitled leaves, registration with EOBI, medical and first aid facility at site, meals, accommodation and transport facility are being provided as per labour laws in true letter and spirit.