Dock-workers of Port Qasim Authority (PQA) have demanded of the government to settle their issue of improved work opportunities at the country's seconds largest seaport. Talking to Business Recorder on Thursday, one of the representatives of dockers Mutiullah Khan said the labourers have been contributing a great deal to the development of Port Qasim since its establishment in 1981.
Now, he added, they want to get improved work opportunities in line with port rules. However, authority started scaling down dockers work opportunity through privatising different portions once the seaport had received attention and importance. He further said that dockers were contributing day and night to the growth of the port but the authority, first time in history threw them out of the newly established private dry cargo terminal. He alleged the authority had previously denied dockers work at the three berths of another private terminal.
Mutiullah pointed out, "Karachi Port Trust has different rules for dockers and PQA has completely different rules for labourers in the country". He added that the authority's action also denied International Labour Organisation charter that supports trade unionism.
He demanded that PQA administration should stop economic exploitation of dockers and appealed for better work opportunities across the seaport. Meanwhile, dockers continue holding scores of demonstrations to protest against PQA policies and wok opportunities at all terminals and berths at the country's second biggest seaport.
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