QUETTA: Leaders of the All Pakistan Federation of Trade Unions (APFTU) and the Balochistan Labour Federation on Sunday condemned the ban on 63 trade unions, calling it a violation of the law and citizens’ constitutional right to form unions and political parties.
Speaking at a press conference at the Quetta Press Club and during a protest demonstration outside it, APFTU Balochistan President Haji Ramzan Achakzai and Balochistan Labour Federation President Khan Zaman demanded an end to the ban on trade unions, recognition of international labour rights and a halt to the privatisation of national institutions.
They also called for effective measures to prevent accidents in coal mines, action against mine owners responsible for safety violations and protection of workers’ rights.
Haji Bashir Rind, Qasim Khan, Haji Aziz Shahwani and Muhammad Umar Jattak were also present.
The labour leaders alleged that the government’s writ had weakened in Balochistan and that the province was facing widespread unrest and insecurity. They said people were unable even to raise their voices for their legitimate rights.
They alleged that government policies had pushed profitable public institutions towards collapse and that privatisation was being used to conceal incompetence and corruption. Instead of privatising profitable institutions, they said, the assemblies should be ‘privatised’ to rid people of what they described as incompetent rulers.
The leaders criticised what they called excessive dependence on the IMF and other international financial institutions, alleging that such policies were being pursued at the expense of public interest. They vowed to continue raising their voice against these measures.
They said federal government employees and workers in other provinces were receiving the Disparity Reduction Allowance (DRA) and other benefits, while employees in Balochistan were being treated unfairly.
They also complained that pensioners and employees of the Metropolitan Corporation sometimes went without salaries for up to three months, while the outsoureing system had worsened sanitation conditions.
They said Quetta Development Authority employees had not been regularised despite being issued permanent appointment orders, alleging that the profitable institution was being dismantled.
The labour leaders demanded an end to the ban on trade unions, timely payment of salaries, reinstatement of suspended employees who had raised their voices for their rights, recruitment under the heirs’ quota and an end to what they called the exploitation of workers through fake unions.
They warned that failure to address their demands would lead to a broader protest campaign and held the government and concerned authorities responsible for any consequences.