Razia Sabir mobilizes women workers for implementation of labor laws
Razia Sabir, from Faisalabad, a married woman with 5 children, has been a sanitary worker in municipal corporation for 30 years. Ms. Shabana Bhatti, a school teacher and a member of Women Workers’ Alliance (WWA) introduced her to the women workers’ meeting.
Razia Sabir shared that she and her co-workers did not communicate their problems to anyone since they felt scared of being terminated or suspended from their jobs. When she attended the women workers meetings, she understood the purpose of these meetings and decided to share problems with other women workers. The supervisors harassed them that if any worker complained against them, the workers would lose their jobs.
Ms. Razia Sabir shared the issue of non-payment of salary for two months by Faisalabad Waste Management Company (FWMC) with WWA’s member Shabana Bhatti. Therefore, a WWA meeting was called on this issue where they coordinated with other labor organizations like Labour Qaumi Movement, Rawadari Tahreek and others. A press conference was conducted at Press Club Faisalabad after which they demonstrated a peaceful protest from District Council to the Deputy Commissioner Office Faisalabad.
When Ms. Sabir became a member of the Women Workers’ Alliance (WWA), training sessions were conducted for the WWA members on leadership and labor laws. She got information about labor laws and gained confidence as a result, after which Ms. Sabir encouraged other women workers to share their issues with her since she had understood which department could resolve their issues.
Later on, the Assistant Commissioner (A.C.) called a meeting with labor leaders and women workers for resolving their issue. The A.C. City Faisalabad listened to their issues and ensured that all sanitary workers’ salaries for two months will be transferred to their accounts. Moreover, Eid-ul-Azha and covid-19 duty allowances for the period they were in quarantine will be paid. Apart from this, an anti-harassment committee will be formed as well.
