Gadani workers' rally demands national ship-breaking policy.

KARACHI -- A rally to mark the third anniversary of the fire tragedy that claimed the lives of 33 ship-breaking workers in Gadani has called upon the government to announce a national ship-breaking policy and withdraw heavy taxes from this crucial sector of the economy.

The third anniversary of the tragic incident that also left over 50 workers injured was organised in Gadani by the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) and Gadani Ship-breaking Workers Union on Friday. NTUF's central president Rafiq Baloch led the rally.

Addressing the rally, the speakers said that despite the passage of three years the government of Balochistan had not been able to provide legal protection to the ship-breaking workers.

Participants of the rally urge the govt to implement measures for the health and safety of workers

'As a result ship-breaking workers today are compelled to work in worst conditions as implementation of labour laws and health and safety have become a distant dream. There is still no proper law in place for ship-breaking workers, which can result in another big mishap,' they said.

'Lawmaking is necessary to bring ship-breaking into the industrial sector. A draft bill made with the extensive consultation of labour should be tabled in the assembly at the earliest. Health and safety laws should also be implemented and contract labour system in this sector must be ended,' said Mr Baloch.

NTUF's president Bashir Ahmed Mehmoodani said that they had been complaining against the non-implementation of health and safety measures at the Gadani ship-breaking yards for a long time now but the government, the yard owners and related government departments had never taken these complaints seriously.

'There was a terrible tragedy on Nov 1, 2016 followed by many more mishaps at the Gadani ship-breaking yards in which more than 33 workers died and 54 others got injured. Sadly such mishaps still continue,' he said.

It was said that the Balochistan labour department, social security institutions, Employees Old-age Benefit Institution, environmental agencies, local police...