Statement on mine workers strike against Chinese Company and deteriorated situation in Duddar (Balochistan) mine and mineral fields

A foreign (Chinese) company "MMC Duddar Mineral Development Company Limited has been mining for copper/ other precious metals and minerals in Duddar (UC) mountain area , Tehseel Kan Raj,District Lasbella (Balochistan) about200 Km Hub industrial city of the province.

In Duddar mines about 400 workers employed by the company involve in mining work, all the laborers are from local “Jamoot” tribe. The working conditions are very deplorable in and around the mines. There is no safety measures of any kind at work place which has increased the number of death and injuries.

During the work. The working hours ranging from 12 to 14 hours dialy with wage of 200 rupees with out any other facilities.

To cope with the situation the workers of Duddar mine and Mineral fields exercise their right to form the union and get registered their union with the Registrar of Trade Union of Labour Department of Balochistan, Quetta. The lawful union "Duddar Mineral Development Company Labour Union registered on 23 September 2012 with registration number 390. The formation of the union was initiated by the NTUF and nor the union is affiliated with the NTUF.

As per legal labour procedure the union has put their “Charter of Demands” on 23 September 2012 to the management for the betterment of working conditions and the better wages. The management hasn’t recognized the representative and lawful character of the union and started to harass the workers especially the union office bearers and activists. The management has ordered to stop the entry at work place of 100 workers including union office bearers with any notice and lawful intimation.

Its legal provision and lawful right of the union to call for strike when the management failed to negotiate on the charter of demands as granted in the Labour law . The union has called for the acceptance of their lawful demands which were rejected so as a result workers has gone on strike from 5April and Dharna at mine field in accordance with the Section 42/3 of Balochistan Industrial Relation Act (BIRA) 2010.

The Chinese company management has called the Frontier Constablary (FC) and local Levy militia to brake down the workers strike. More 200 FC armed personnels has surrounded the area. The situation at mines fields and nearby villages becoming worse because of forced stoppage of food and water supply to the area.

The management of MCC Duddar Mineral Development Company own and manage by the Chinese never follow Pakistan labour laws and ILO labour standards. The multinational companies especially the Chinese one treat the workers not more than slaves in Balochistan and state organs including so called law enforcing agencies playing the dirty role to curb the workers just voice for their rights in pretext of security and protection of the foreigners in specific law and order situation of Balochistan.

National Trade Union Federation Pakistan appeal to the Interim Chief Minister of Balochistan to take immediate action and forced the mine and mineral company to obey the labour laws and accept the lawful demands of the mine workers at Duddar mine and mineral fields and with draw the FC and militiamen. The NTUF also appeal to nationalist parties of Balochistan, democratic and progressive parties of Pakistan, international and federal level labour federations, worker confederation, labour and human right organizations to intervene to protect endanger lives and jobs of 400 workers.

NTUF
Nasir Mansoor
Rafiq Baloch
726 Mashriq Center, Gulshan Iqbal 14, Karachi Pakistan
www.ntufpak.org