Pakistan Steel Mills workers protest against axing of 9000+ employees

Pakistan Stee Mills workers protest against the axing of 9000+ employees after the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Wednesday approved firing all employees of the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM).

Hundreds of PSM workers took to the road at Steel Mor, Steel Town Karachi to register their protest against the government’s decision to sack employees, which is being reasoned by saying that the mills haven’t been functioning for years and the employees have not been doing anything.

Workers and Officers Action Committee deputy convener Naveed Aftab said, “Rangers arrested four union leaders from the Pakistan Steel Mills workers protest against axing of 9000+ employees, don’t know where they shifted, demonstration restrained in Steel Town”.

“The alliance of trade unions has rejected the so-called retrenchment plan. We don’t trust the government. It must fulfill a promise to revive the PSM. A protest is our right. We would not move until our people are released”, he further added.

As being reported, Ejaz Samoo, sacked worker of Pakistan Steel Mills died during the protest at Steel Mor.

Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar said on Thursday that the government is looking to restructure the debts and hand over core operations of the Mill to private investors to help revive it.

The machinery and equipment installed on 1,800 acres will be privatized, while the 18,000 acres will remain the government’s property. Fifteen parties have reached out to the government so far.

According to the federal minister, Rs 20 billion package has been prepared for the PSM employees and each of them will be given at least Rs2.3 million as a golden handshake.

As being reported, there are 9,350 employees who will be fired within a month and another 250 will be released from service within three months.