KARACHI – The Labour Party Pakistan on Wednesday demanded the government to immediately arrest those responsible for the two blaze incidents in factories in Karachi and Lahore, and that the heirs of each victim be given Rs 1 million compensation money.  In a statement, LPP spokesperson Nisar Shah, general secretary Younas Rahu and labour secretary Nasir Mansoor, expressed sorrow over the deaths of around 300 workers in the two mishaps.                                               –Reporter
They condemned the total failure of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-led government in Punjab and the PPP-led government in Sindh to make certain the implementation of labour laws in factories.
"Workers in factories have no safety measures, no safety kits, and no exit doors to escape in the case of fire," they said, adding that private factories had become concentration camps and workers therein were not considered human beings any more.
“Those responsible for both the mishaps be immediately arrested, and the heirs of those who lost their lives due to the negligence of their bosses and the government must be paid at least Rs 1million each.
The LPP leaders also called on the Labour Department to ensure the implementation of the labour laws.
The criminal negligence on part of the federal and provincial governments caused such a huge loss of lives, they said, recalling that Sindh and Punjab had banned labour inspection of factories till the past year. “Even, at present Labour Department officials cannot inspect factories without prior approval from the employer.
The level of corruption existing in the department is another story to deprive workers from their basic rights,” they added.