HARIPUR: Negotiations between the management and workers of a factory failed as both sides stuck to their guns over the issue of reinstatement of sacked employees and making the factory operational again.

The sacked workers of Agritech, a phosphate manufacturing unit, had announced to go on hunger strike on Monday (today) against the management’s decision of not making the factory operational, following a scuffle between the two senior managers and leaders of the labour union about two months ago.

On the intervention of local administration, the factory management paid salaries to the workers before Eidul Fitr. However, it said that factory would be restarted only on the condition that the workers, who created law and order situation, would not be reinstated and secondly police and district administration would provide protection to it.

However, the matter was delayed as both sides moved high court and the next hearing was fixed for September. The workers again started protest outside the closed factory and announced to go on hunger strike.

Chief Minister Mahmood Khan sent his Adviser on Industries Abdul Kareem Khan to Haripur for negotiations. After a long debate, the factory management agreed to pay the seven-month salaries to those 45 former workers, whom it was not willing to reinstate.

However, the workers refused to accept the condition and demanded package under voluntary separation scheme. The workers also accused the management of violating the labour laws. The management promised to follow the labour laws but refused to reinstate the former workers.

Despite the efforts of adviser and local political leadership, both sides failed to reach consensus.

NAZIM: District nazim Akhtar Nawaz Khan has said that society should be educated in line with religious teachings and international protection mechanisms to save children from abuses and negligent attitude.

He was talking to a delegation of civil society organisations and government departments here on Monday.

The delegation told him about the situation of violation of child rights in the district. The nazim said that they should arrange awareness sessions at educational institutions, for local government representatives, media persons, religious leaders, prosecution and investigation department and other stakeholders to protect the rights of children.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2019