Pakistan: Unilever exploiting workers through Third Party contract

Unilever is extracting huge profits in Pakistan through brutal exploitation of workers. Most of the products of Unilever are now manufactured through Third Party contracts in which workers are given starvation wages and no other benefits at all.

One of these places of oppression and brutality is Ashraf Soap Ltd. Located on G.T. road in Kamoki near Gujranwala. Here Lux, Life Buoy and Vim soaps of Unilever are manufactured under the banner of Ashraf Soap. Though the management of Unilever Pakistan regularly visits this place, the factory is owned by Ashraf Soap. Here exploitation of workers is at an extreme where they are hired by another contractor and have no job security.

In February 25 workers were forcibly sacked by the owners without giving them any notice. They were being paid less than 100 dollars per month while their employers were making these huge profitable products. In the year 2012 only the profits of Unilever increased by 1.4 billion Rupees or 14 million dollars which is due to this exploitation.

Workers at Ashraf Soap are not getting any allowances or any of the other benefits and job security offered to permanent workers of Unilever. Even Ashraf Soap doesn’t recognize them as their workers; rather they claim that they are hired by Rafiq contractor.

These workers contacted PTUDC and a meeting was held at Sultania Hotel opposite Ashraf soap on 21st February. Workers planned a protest outside the main gate of the Factory on 27th February and all the demands were conveyed to the Management.

On 27th February a protest and sit in was held outside the main gate of Ashraf Soap. A representative of Unilever management was expected to come on this date but he ran away. Central Leader of PTUDC comrade Adam Pal also joined the protesting workers and supported their demands. Zahid Baryar Advocate, Comrade Awais, Sajjad, Nazia and other PTUDC activists from Gujranwala were also present at this sit in. They addressed the workers and said that their demands will be conveyed to workers of other sectors in Gujranwala and all over Pakistan. President of Coca Cola Gujranwal CBA union Muhammad Yusaf sent a message of solidarity for these workers. A solidarity message from workers of Unilever Rahim Yar Khan was also read out to the protesting workers.

Workers were holding placards against Unilever management and were demanding an end to Third Party Contract System. Many workers from inside the factory also joined the sacked workers in a sit in and condemned the contract system of Unilever. They demanded that all sacked workers should be restored on their jobs immediately and all 151 workers in Ashraf Soap be given permanent jobs by Unilever or they will continue their protest.

A delegation was sent by management comprising of the President and the General Secretary of the pocket union. On behalf of management they assured the protesters that all their demands will be discussed and will be resolved by the 6th March. On this promise workers ended their peaceful sit in but warned that they will hold bigger protests and sit ins if their demands are not met by the 6th March. Workers from adjoining industrial units also gathered at the occasion in big number and supported the demands of these workers.

Source: Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign