Farooq Tariq, Lahore
On April 26, a Pakistan Bhatta Mazdoor Union convention at the Lahore Press Club unanimously decided to end a national bhatta (brick-kiln) workers' strike after the government and bosses both made concessions. The strike began on April 18 to demand the end of the peshgi (advance) system of bonded labour, better wages and registration of the brick-kiln factories.
Under pressure from the strike, many bosses felt the pain and agreed not to take back the advances and to increase wages. A government official assured the union leadership that they will make sure the Bonded Labour Abolition Act is implemented, under which any bhatta owner who collects the peshgi by force is liable to five years' imprisonment and a 50,000 rupees (A$1100) fine.
The convention was attended by more than 200 union representatives, including at least two from every district, who indicated that the bosses are on the retreat and the government has started to listen. The mood was jubilant — the delegates were proud of what they had achieved.
Seventy-five-year-old Baba Jan Masih from Sheikhupura district, who was a key leader of the strike, said that "it is the union power that forced the bosses to listen to us and have meetings with us". His dedication inspired many young workers to take up the fight for union rights.
Moahmmed Riaz, also from Sheikhupura district, told the convention about how he was picked up in a van by the brick-kiln bosses, who promised him that they would not bring back the peshgi system and offered him 30,000 rupees in return for bringing the striking workers back to work. Riaz responded by telling them that "the peshgi system is over and you have no right to ask for that money. I will not take any money from you. I am a union man and will do what the union asks me to do."
[Farooq Tariq is the general-secretary of the Labour Party Pakistan.]
From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, May 3, 2006.
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