Earlier this year, the Pakistan State Life Insurance Company (SLIC) SLIC dismissed 100 workers. These dismissals triggered protests by the Federation of Field Workers Association and UNI affiliate PBIFEF. The Government then declared that SLIC performs an essential service, therefore allowing the company to restrict trade union activities.
Local management followed by suspending five trade union officials and sending a letter to staff warning that all trade union activity must stop. The National Industrial Relations Court (NIRC) ordered their reinstatement, but the company has ignored the court decision and instead engages in a blatant attack on workers and an anti-union campaign.
In a resolution passed by the UNI Management Committee last week, UNI demands that the Pakistan government respect trade union rights, including the right to collective bargaining, and revoke the abusive declaration of employment at SLIC as essential services, which is in violation of both Pakistan law and the ILO definition of essential services.
UNI also demands that SLIC immediately reinstate all suspended trade union officials and that the ban on union activities in the name of the misapplied essential services legislation be immediately lifted.
UNI Global Union General Secretary, Christy Hoffman said, “The entire UNI family stands in solidarity with our sisters and brothers at PBIFEF, and the workers who are being victimised at SLIC. We call on management to re-open dialogue and enter into collective bargaining, and to stop attacking the employees and their union at the company.”
