Baldia tragedy stems from a lack of occupational safety and health: Piler official

The Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) recently organized a seminar on occupational safety and health (OSH) at the Karachi Press Club. This event took place on the eve of the 14th anniversary of the tragic Baldia factory fire, which claimed the lives of around 260 workers in September 2012. The seminar's executive director, Abbas Haider, highlighted that the Baldia tragedy was a direct result of the lack of occupational safety and health measures.

However, the case went through various stages, including political interference, leading to the eventual acquittal of the main culprits and a denial of justice to the victims.

Haider pointed out that workers and the working class are among the most significant victims of climate change, with power outages exacerbating their struggles, leading to hardship, domestic violence, and increased workplace accidents. He further criticized the Sindh government for failing to deliver on its promise of establishing OSH councils and committees in factories, as well as the Pakistan Accord's lack of significant results.

Trade union leader Dara Zafar reiterated that the current situation remains unchanged, not only in factories but also in offices. He emphasized the need to raise OSH awareness among both workers and employers and highlighted the weak state of trade unions in the country. Zafar urged PILER, trade unions, and civil society to collaborate in advocating for a legal framework and warned that without such action, no change would occur.

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) vice chairperson, Qazi Khizer, described the Ali Enterprises factory as a "jail for workers," where windows and entrances were gridded and locked. He held both factory owners and the state accountable for the tragedy, criticizing the state for failing to protect its people and the courts for not assigning responsibility to the labor department or other bodies responsible for ensuring worker safety.

Former labour department joint director, Gulfam Nabi Memon, emphasized that the real tragedy was that people only became aware of the issue after an incident occurred, describing the Baldia factory fire as the worst industrial disaster in the country's history.

Following the fire, the Sindh government enacted the Sindh Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2015, which placed responsibility on both employers and workers to prevent workplace hazards and promote safety. Trade unionist Rehana Yasmeen highlighted the stark reminder left by the Baldia incident, recalling how immediate rescue was unavailable and workers had to jump from the second floor to save themselves.

Former trade unionist and People's Labour Bureau leader, Habibudin Junaidi, lamented that no lessons had been learned from the country's tragedies. He praised Karamat Ali, the founder of PILER, for his role in securing compensation for the workers and called for the revival of student unions.