Power-loom workers stage protest demonstration

NGOs members and Power looms workers, including their families, took out a procession to register their protest against non-implementation of labour laws in factories and non-provision of benefits to workers. The processionists also staged a sit-in outside the District Government Offices and chanted slogans against the labour department officials and other authorities concerned.
They blocked traffic on Circular Road, Chowk Clock Tower and outside katchery Bazar and marched through various city roads by carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands. About two-dozen children of the workers participated in the rally with dry breads around their necks. The procession led by Tehreek-e-Haqooq-e-Niswan President Dr Farzana Bari and other leaders of Labour Qoumi Movement, started from District Council intersection and reached the Clock Tower where labour leaders addressed the participants. They said power loom workers were forced to work in factories in highly unhygienic conditions and at very low wages.
About 80 per cent of the power loom units have no system of enrolment of their workers with the Social Security Department, which was a stigma on the face of district and provincial governments, speakers added.
Labour leaders and NGOs heads demanded that the wages of labourers should be enhanced according to the price spiral; workers should be registered with the Social Security and Old Age Benefit Institutions etc. Labour leaders further mentioned that an agreement between the labourers and the loom owners was signed during a meeting presided over by the district Nazim in July 2004 for the provision of basic rights to workers. But it has not yet been implemented due to negligence of the officials of the labour department.
Meanwhile, the hunger strike of 16 labour leaders and poower loom workers entered into second week here on Tuesday. But none of the government officers or the elected representatives including labour councillors has so far visited the hunger strike camp.
The protesters vowed to continue their protest movement and the hunger strike till the acceptance of their demand. They threatened that in case their demands were not accepted within next couple of days, they would besiege the office of district Nazim and the DCO.