Working class fears instability, unemployment

ISLAMABAD - The current financial crunch coupled with prevailing instability has hit the industrial sector besides traders and business community very hard.
The working class in private sector, most of which comprise personnel of industrial sector, multinationals and corporate business enterprises is uncertain about its future owing to the worst global crises that has marred the economic activities in Pakistan as well.
According to the information gleaned by TheNation, the employees of different factories operating in industrial areas are uncertain about their future. The processes of downsizing and rightsizing have raised echoing questions related to their bread and butter.
Facts and figures reveal that dozens of factories had been closed down in Hattar Industrial Estate while other industrial areas across Pakistan are facing the same problems. The number of people that have lost their jobs as a result of closing down of factories in Hattar ranges in thousands.
Moreover, the employees of some mills and factories that are still working in the region told this scribe that they have been issued written notices to find alternative jobs within three months. Such notices ask the employees to immediate leave their jobs since the managements of their respective organisations are unable to sustain the tide of rapidly deteriorating economy.
The sacked staffers of several companies said that their duties were terminated from the jobs without any benefits offered to them. “We were not offered any provident funds, GP funds or other benefits when we were sacked,” said Sultan who was the shift operator at a prominent factory in Hattar. “I think its not the fault of our employers, they were simply forced to wind up their business in current circumstances,” he added.
An employee of a private glass factory said that around fifty of his colleagues have been asked to quit their duties. “Though I haven’t been sacked but the massive cut down in my salary is no lesser a pain,” he exclaimed in agony mentioning that his salary has been reduced to Rs 7,000 from Rs 13,000 last month.