While some people attacked US embassies because of an obscure and stupid film, Pakistani trade unionists took to the streets to express outrage over something much more urgent and close to home: the deaths of more than 300 workers in factory fires on September 11.
Various reports indicate that workers could not escape the fire because the factory buildings lacked basic fire safety standards and emergency exits.
The fire at Ali Enterprises, the garment factory located in Hub river road, Sindh Industrial Trading Estate (SITE) in Karachi killed more than 289 workers. Many of them died of suffocation as they were trapped in the basement. Large number of workers suffered grievous injuries as they jumped from the building to safety. The factory was established illegally and not registered under the Factories Act. The four-story garment factory had only one exit and with no fire fighting or extinguishing instruments. All windows were iron grilled and doorways and stairs were stuffed with finished or semi finished merchandise.
Being a pay day, as many as 1,000 workers were in the factory at the time of the fire accident. The basement of the factory is filled with water that was used to extinguish fire and it is feared that many dead bodies are still under the rubble. It is also reported that the identification of the dead became a critical issue as large number of workers were on third party contract with no appointment letter and not registered with government social security institute or worker welfare board.
In another fire accident at the four-story shoe manufacturing unit at Lahore about 25 workers were killed. The factory is said to be located in residential area of the city. Initial reports suggest that the accident occurred while workers tried to start generator during the power cut and sparks from the generator came in contact with chemicals used to make the shoes.
LabourStart has begun an online campaign to demand that the Pakistani government improve and enforce industrial safety standards, and to ensure compensation to the victims and their families.