Rally demands relief as 18m workers affected by Covid-19.

KARACHI -- A large number of textile and garments factory workers staged a protest rally here on Sunday against blatant violation of labor laws at their workplaces and warned of staging a sit-in in front of the Sindh Assembly if the worsening situation was not urgently handled.

The rally was staged by the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) from Bilal Chowrangi Korangi Industrial Area and ended at the Karachi Press Club (KPC). It was led by veteran labor leader Comrade Gul Rehman and general secretary of Textile Garments General Workers Union Nisar Ahmed Panhwar. A large number of workers carrying red flags, placards and banners attended the rally and chanted slogans.

Addressing the rally, NTUF general secretary Nasir Mansoor said local factories working for international fashion garment brands had kept their workers in slavery like conditions and all local and international labor laws were being violated in the factories that were virtually sweat shops.

He said textile and garment industry was playing the role of backbone of the country's economy, but the government policies and attitude of international brands had made hundreds of thousands of workers of this sector virtually low-wage slaves, who were deprived of their due rights. He said the country would also progress and prosper if the working conditions and living standard of those labors were...