HYDERABAD: In connection with Youm-i-Mutalbat (demands day), protests were held on Wednesday under the banner of All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union (CBA) in parts of Sindh.

Addressing a big rally in Hyderabad, union president Abdul Latif Nizamani warned that the government would not be allowed to privatise power houses and distribution companies.

The government had again planned to divide, close and privatise power houses and power distribution companies of the country, he said and recalled that the CBA union with the force of labour had already prevented privatisation of the institution twice.

“If the government is determined to privatise them, it (government ) would be privatised,” he threatened while speaking at a big rally outside the local press club.

Hundreds of workers of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), including Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco), power houses, water wings and other units, took out a rally from the Labour Hall Hyderabad to the local press club where it was converted into a public meeting.

Carrying banners and placards, they were shouting slogans for their demands.

Mr Nizamani said the top echelons of government institutions were bound to hold parleys with the CBA leaders and fulfil fair demands presented by workers as per the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Industrial Relations Act (IRA) 2012.

The government must fulfil fair demands of workers, including implementation of son quota, regularisation of contractual workers, payment of bonuses on regular basis etc.

Accusing the government of following an anti-labour policy, he warned that it would never be allowed to deprive workers of their rights.

He stressed the need for an end to corruption in the institutions, power theft and wrong billing.

He pleaded for a fair accountability of all those officials and consumers who were involved in corruption so that the institutions could be strengthened.

CBA provincial secretary Mohammad Iqbal Qaimkhani and other office-bearers of the union also addressed the rally and assured workers of resolving their problems soon. In Larkana, workers affiliated with the All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union (CBA) staged a lockout and took out a rally against the attempt of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to privatise power companies.

In the lead of their regional and divisional leaders, including Nisar Ahmed Shaikh, Abdullah Soomro and Hashim Gaad, workers started a march from the office of the superintendent engineer Larkana circle of Sukkur Electricity Power Supply Company (Sepco). Carrying banners and placards, and chanting slogans, they gathered outside Jinnahbagh and staged a sit-in and burnt tyres there.

They alleged that Federal Minister for Power Awais Leghari was out to privatise the power companies, but they (workers) would fight with determination against his move.

Expressing concern over the kidnapping of Nizamuddin Khoso, in-charge of Karampur power grid station, they demanded of the government to get him released from the clutches of kidnappers.

Workers of the Hyderabad Electricity Power Supply Company (Hesco) boycotted their duties and took out rallies in Badin, Matli, Talhar and other towns to register their protest against the proposed privatization of Wapda by the federal government.

In Badin, workers also staged a demonstration outside Badin press club. Talking to reporters, protesters’ leaders vowed to resist the move of the against government.

Hundreds Wapda/Sepco employees in Sukkur staged a sit-in in front of the local press club against the government attempt.Addressing on the occasion, union leaders said the Nawaz government, instead of bringing improvement in Wapda, wanted to sell it. The move would not only damage the institutions, but also rendered thousands of employees jobless, they added.

They alleged that the federal government had damaged Wapda by committing corruption, otherwise Wapda was a profitable institution.

They vowed that they would not allow privatisation of Wapda at any cost. Wapda employees would hold strong protests if the government tried to privatise it forcibly, they warned.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2018