Pakistani carpet workers strike

On June 11, 20,000 members of the United Carpet Industries Labour Union struck in Lahore, closing all 130 workplaces in the city. Red flags were flying outside the occupied factories and above the four strike camps set up by the union.

After 30 years without striking, the workers are now demanding substantial wage rises, the implementation of labour laws in the industry, retirement pay, measures to protect their health and safety and an end to child labour.

The average wage, Rs1600 ($40) a month, has not changed for three years while prices have risen more than 200%. Labouring intolerably long hours with no protection, carpet workers suffer all kinds of debilitating health problems. In the washing processes, chemicals are used that burn the skin from face and limb. In the cutting rooms, the heavy dust goes straight into the lungs.

All work is subcontracted, and the employers have refused to acknowledge the existence of the union. They blame various non-governmental organisations for putting jobs in danger with their “bad publicity” about child labour.

There are 80,000 carpet workers in Pakistan. The Lahore strikers are giving them hope by making a stand. Please send messages of support to: Ittehad Carpet Industries Labour Union, 40 Abbott Road, Lahore, Pakistan or fax 9242 723 9128 or email: edu@found.edunet.sdnpk.undp.org.

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