LAHORE: Electricity and industrial workers have asked the government to fulfil its constitutional obligation and ensure provision of safe, hazardless and healthy working environment to them.

They also sought penalty for those playing with the lives of workers by not providing them adequate safety gadgets.

`It is the duty of the government under the Constitution to make allout efforts for giving a safe andhealthy environment to all workers -particularly the electricity, industrial and construction workers,` said trade unionist and All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union Secretary General Khurshid Ahmad while speaking at a workers conference held on Wednesday to pay a tribute to those who sacrificed their lives during performance of duty.

The fatal/non-fatal accidents and eruption of occupational diseases at workplaces are common in the country as both public and private sector employers are not adopting the required safety measures under thelaw, constitution and ILO Conventions ratified by the government.

Mr Ahmad said the power workers were performing the most hazardous tasks for supplying power to more than 25 millions domestic, industrial, commercial and agriculture consumers across the country.

`Due to unsafe and unhealthy working environment (electrocution), more than 63 members of the line staff have met fatal accidents.

The managements of electricity companies are required to get safety laws implemented in true letter and spirit,` he added.