Daily Times

Lockdown’s strategy sparked a new crisis and Sindh Government has not come out of its oral claims yet, thousands of people have been fired from industries in metropolis due to Corona pandemic.

President of KATI Shaikh Umer Rehan expressed his grieve concern on Sindh government role for not doing anything for the welfare of workers while talking to Daily Times he said that in this pandemic situation where everyone is suffering so industrialists too.

Shaikh Umer said that we have already informed Sindh government with our concerns adding that yet nothing has been done practically as per being said that compensation would be made.

“Neither Federal nor provisional government has announced officially for the workers welfare”, he added

He asked government to utilize the Sindh worker welfare funds so that workers may be facilitated.

Earlier the Sindh government has issued a order by raising Section 3(1) of Sindh Epidemic Diseases Act, 2014, whereby employers, private or governmental, operating commercial or industrial establishments were barred from non-payment of wages and laying off workers.

Despite this many companies as such Denim International, Artistic Apparels, Casual Sports Wear and many other companies have fired their employees or deducted salaries as per in a letter obtained by Daily Times “all office staff salaries are being cut between 10 to 50% depending on salary levels from April 2020 for 3 months”.

A female worker Erum Naz started crying while talking to Daily Times that “I have given eight years to my company and now they have told me to sit at home without salary, how I will my run my home?” she asked

Mian Zahid Hussain President of Pakistan Businessmen & Intellectuals Forum PBIF said that as per my knowledge, most of the industries are closed for one month, whether due to lock down or on account of no orders from abroad; therefore, industries are not capable of paying salaries keeping them closed. Therefore Industries have asked their employees for the reduction in wages due to non-availability of cash flow.

Musaddiq Aziz Head of Resources Mobilization GCT, told that if employees are being fired so we will have to see it in a larger prospect, adding that already industrialists have requested to PM, Governor and CM Sindh to permit them at least 25% production if industry comes on zero production so how can a company afford or pay their workers.

“Karachi is suffering between two main extreme point of view, one is by PM and another is by Sindh government, but both of them have failed to device mechanism for relief of employment under the present COVID-19 based challenging situation”, he added

He maintained that there are many loopholes in Sindh government’s efforts to safeguard employment adding that the notification issued by the Sindh government prevents employers from laying off workers, which under the Sindh Terms of Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 2015, is different from dismissal.

Giving reference of article 24 of the Pakistani constitution protects, he briefed that everyone’s rights to dispose their property in whatever way they like, it also allows the state to restrict this right under these conditions. Restrictions can only be imposed by law; Restrictions must be in public interest; Restrictions must be reasonable.

He further said, Sindh government should honour the recommendations and demands of big industrialists, export and production units.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) legislator Khawaja Izhar Ul Hassan said that we have seen them how they are fulfilling their other promises so how come they help the business community dejectedly he stated that people who are expecting anything they are in vain-imaginations.

“Business community will have to do their selves for surviving”, adding that industries may cut salary as per law but do not fire the employees.

The government has already assigned special powers to the labour secretary and labour director and the department was given the task to ensure that salaries, vacations and employment of citizens were safeguarded in these difficult times but nothing can be seen being implemented.

An Economist Muzammil Aslam told that economic situation is witnessing severe slowdown due to lockdown adding that 1.5-2.5 billion dollars is expected to shave adding that most impacted sector wholesale & trade, foreign trade, financial services, shipping & freight, durables included auto, electronics and steel business are the big losers.

To a question he said that not expecting much from Sindh Government to see their current practices, so far they have disappointed in terms of any concessions on taxation and bail out to businesses.

In a moderate scenario where private offices and most shops are closed, but essential shops are open, the government has worked out 12.3 million people becoming jobless across the country.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had declared Sindh government policy on services of public and private sector employees during the coronavirus pandemic as a guideline for the other provinces.

In a statement Bilawal Bhutto said that “If employer is not adhering to the directive, contact the government so we can take action.”

But when Daily Times contacted a Sindh government representative to talk about practical implementation, no one responded.