Shame on PTI government of KPK for arresting trade
union leaders and members of Mehnatkash Union Philip
Morris Tobacco Company!
Today at around noon time 33 members of the
Mehnatkash Labour Union of Philip Morris Tobacco
Company were arrested by the Swabi Police under
notorious MPO laws by the orders of DCO Swabi. These
trade union members are sent to DI Khan jail. This
is how the governmennt of PTI in KPK is responding
to the struggle of trade union against illegal
sacking of
141 workers from the company.
PTI government is not able to implement the court
orders of NIRC against illegal sacking of workers
from jobs but instead are arresting the workers.
Philip Morris Tabaco Company offered heavy bribes to
Abrar Ullah the president of the Union when they
called him for negotiation in Islamabad. He was
called to forget the union and sacked workers. He
flatly refused the bribes and asked for
reinstatement of the 141 workers. Abrar Ullah
informed me about this when I met him two weeks back
in Mardan and attended the protest camp outside
factory gate.
It seems that company has heavily bribed the local
police and district administration for arresting
trade union leaders and protesting workers.#PTI leadership
should take notice of this act of district
administration of Swabi and respect the democratic
right of workers to protest. In more than 40 days
the local government was not able to convince the
Philip Morris management for a fruitful negotiation
with trade union and for acceptance of the court
orders against sacking of workers from jobs but they
were very fast on arresting workers over the
protest. After the protest of Mehnatkash Labour
Union and Awami Workers Party on 4th January the
district administration Swabi had a jirga with trade
union and AWP leadership and they assured the union
leaders that they will play their role in bringing
the company to negotiation but instead they have
arrested the leaders and workers of the union.
We strongly protest against this act of government
and ask for immediate release of trade union leaders
and members. The Philip Morris Company should
negotiate with trade union over the sacking of 141
workers from jobs and settle the matter according to
labour laws.
We salute the struggle of Mehnatkash Labour Union
and its leaders Abrar Ullah!
Khalid Mahmood ,
Director Labour Education Foundation