Karachi: Efforts to suppress unionization are undermining industrial peace, according to the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF), which staged a protest rally from Regal Chowk to the Karachi Press Club. The rally, led by NTUF Sindh General Secretary Riaz Abbasi, saw workers from various industrial zones and representatives from political, social, and human rights organizations come together.
During the rally, NTUF General Secretary Nasir Mansoor highlighted the increasing retaliatory actions against workers in Karachi, condemning the criminalization of unionization. He pointed to M.I. Industries in Karachi’s SITE area as a significant example, where workers were dismissed for forming a union, and a female worker leader faced harassment and violence. Union leaders received murder threats, with the SITE police allegedly acting as silent spectators. Mansoor accused the Labour Department of corruption and humiliating workers to disrupt unionization efforts.
Qazi Khizr, Vice Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Sindh Chapter, emphasized that labor rights are integral to human rights. He assured that HRCP would continue raising its voice against these injustices on all platforms.
Zehra Khan, Co-Chair of the IndustriALL Global Union for the Textile and Garment Sector, asserted that anti-worker practices must cease for Pakistan’s industrial progress. She urged international brands and local suppliers to comply with labor standards, warning that workers may escalate grievances to the global level if their voices are suppressed.
Habibuddin Junedi, President of People’s Labour Bureau, warned of economic consequences if international labor standards are not met. He criticized corruption within the Sindh Workers Welfare Board and the proposed Sindh Labor Code 2025, which he claimed legitimizes exploitative practices.
Railways Workers Union General Secretary Rao Naseem criticized the Labour Department’s role in undermining labor welfare. He cautioned that workers’ patience is wearing thin, and a strong response will follow if the government does not take swift action.
The rally included various speakers such as Mukhtiar Awan, Dr. Asghar Dashti, and Rafiq Baloch, among others, who echoed demands for improved labor rights and government intervention.