By Ghulam Mahdi Baloch
KARACHI: Denim Clothing Company, one of the largest producers of garments for international fashion brands, recently laid off more than 4000 workers at eve of Eid festival. The National Trade Union Federation Pakistan (NTUF) staged a protest on Sunday (July 3rd) at Karachi Press Club against the dismissals. The demonstration was led by Sami Sahir and Himmat Phulpoto along with large number of retrenched workers.
Addressing the protest, the affected workers said that the Denim Clothing Company having many units where thousands of workers employed. A unit of the same company located in Korangi Industrial Area was forcing workers to sign resignations papers. In the unit around 4000 workers, including forced out of work without paying their dues.
These workers had been working in factory for five to ten years. Now to avoid paying government announced minimum wage of 25000 and distribution of Eid bounce, the management had started illegal retrenchment was planning to impose third party contract system (Thakadari) which was against labor laws.
The workers added that labor laws in Denim clothing continue to be violated even though the factory produced merchandise for international fashion brands. These brands had entered into Global Framework Agreements (GFAs) with Industrial Globle Union (IGU) that the supplying factories will fully comply with local and international labor laws. But the factory had been violating the agreement for the past ten years.
The factory did not provide written employment contract to workers, most workers were deprived of EOBI and social security cover, women were subjected to sexual harassment and violence and workers deprived of basic rights such as union formation and right ti bargain collectively.
A written complaint had been lodged with the labor department against the abuse of workers’ fundamental rights. The labor department had called the factory management to respond, but the management trampled on the Labor Department’s notice and refused to respond to any inquiries.
The participating labor leaders demanded that the sacked workers be reinstated with due back benefits. The Department of Labor must ensure compliance with labor laws, International brands also comply the GFAs and compel its local suppliers to respect and implement labor standards as envisage in the agreements.
Those who spoken included Nasir Mansoor, of NTUF, Zahra Khan of HBWWF, Owais Jatoi and Aqib Hussain of Alternate, Gul Rahman of Workers Rights Movement etc.
