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Government should not sell OGDCL: APTUF
All Pakistan Trade Union Federation (APTUF) strongly condemns police action against protesting OGDCL workers in Islamabad and their arrests. This was stated by Rubina Jamil, General Secretary, Anwar Gujjar, President, Nasir Gulzar, Chairman, Mustansar Javed, Saeed Gujjar, Zaheeruddin Babar and Muhammad Ilyas on Saturday. The action was meant to intimidate the workers and pave the way for selling off OGDCL to the government’s blue-eyed persons at a throwaway price.
They observed this while visiting a protest camp established by the workers of OGDCL in Multan. The protesters also staged a sit-in against police brutality. The participants of the sit-in and protest camp shouted slogans against the government on this occasion. They were holding banners and placards inscribed with their demands.
The General Secretary APTUF added that we would not let the rulers sell off profitable enterprises like OGDCL. The government should give workers their due rights. “The act of the government to torture the workers is shameful and clearly exposes their anti-labour attitude,” she said. Speakers added that the unlawful tactics of the government could not stop the workers from struggling for their rights.
Speakers further said that the company’s net sales revenue increased to Rs 64.39 billion compared to last year’s Rs 62.41 billion. Profit after tax stood at Rs 28.310 billion resulting in earnings per share of Rs 6.58. The speakers deplored the federal government for laying off employees, instead of creating employment opportunities for jobless people. They rejected the decision of the government to privatise OGDCL and alleged that vested interests were behind the unpopular decision. Speakers further said that a large number of employees would become jobless if the OGDCL was privatised. APTUF declared that they will fully support the workers of OGDCL if government bids to privatise the company.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk