SUKKUR (Report: Majid Mahmood): More than 40 workers of Dewan Plastic Industry, located in the Golimar industrial area of Sukkur, staged a protest outside the factory and demanded an immediate increase in salaries in view of rising inflation and the growing cost of living.

The demonstration was led by Abid Ali Malik, Sikandar Abro, Basit Ansari, and Kaleemullah Mughal. Workers gathered outside the factory premises and raised slogans such as “Give wages according to inflation” and “Reward our hard work.” The protesters said that their demands were aimed at securing fair compensation and basic labor rights.

According to the workers, there has been no increase in salaries for the past eight years, despite a sharp rise in the prices of essential commodities, electricity, gas, transportation, and educational expenses. They argued that the financial burden on workers’ families has increased significantly, making it difficult for them to meet daily household needs.

Speaking to the media during the protest, Abid Ali Malik said that employees work long hours under demanding conditions but continue to receive wages that are no longer sufficient to support their families.

“We perform 12-hour shifts and spend the entire day operating machinery and producing plastic goods. However, our salaries are so low that by the end of the month we are often forced to borrow money to cover household expenses,” he said.

Another protest leader, Sikandar Abro, urged the factory management to implement wages in accordance with the minimum wage set by the government. He also called for the restoration of an annual increment system to ensure that workers’ earnings keep pace with inflation and economic realities.

Meanwhile, Basit Ansari and Kaleemullah Mughal warned that if the management failed to respond to their demands within a reasonable timeframe, workers would expand their movement and coordinate with laborers from other factories across the city.

They stated that a larger protest campaign could be launched to draw attention to the challenges faced by industrial workers in Sukkur and surrounding areas.

The protesters further claimed that they had repeatedly submitted verbal requests and raised their concerns with factory authorities over the years, but no meaningful action had been taken. According to the workers, management has consistently delayed addressing the issue, leaving employees frustrated and financially strained.

During the protest, no representative of the factory administration reportedly came forward to hold discussions with the demonstrators or provide an official response to the allegations and demands.

Workers appealed to the Sindh Labour Department, the Government of Sindh, and the district administration to take immediate notice of the matter. They urged authorities to ensure that labor laws are implemented and that workers receive their legal rights, including fair wages and employment benefits.

Labor rights advocates note that inflation has significantly increased living expenses across Pakistan in recent years, leading workers in various industries to demand salary revisions and improved working conditions. Many labor organizations have emphasized the importance of enforcing minimum wage regulations and protecting workers from economic hardship.

The protesting workers concluded that if their demands are not accepted, they will consult among themselves and announce their next course of action, which may include organizing a larger sit-in and city-wide protest in collaboration with workers from other industrial units.

For now, the demonstrators say they remain committed to a peaceful struggle for better wages, improved working conditions, and the implementation of labor rights guaranteed under the law.