A civil rights movement for sanitation workers

It is ironic that even after 75 years of independence, we are unwilling to stand up for millions of sanitation workers across Pakistan who continue to be cruelly exploited, socially segregated, religiously discriminated and emotionally degraded. They receive

demeaning, delayed and illegal wages, deprived of EOBI and forced to enter the sewers bubbling with raw human excreta, disease and poisonous fumes. Each one of us is guilty of contributing, creating and tolerating these appalling, repulsive and demeaning conditions for our fellow citizens.

Are we, as conscientious citizens willing to accept our past apathy and agree to adopt all legal and peaceful ways to bring equality and dignity for our marginalised sanitary workers. We believe that only an organised and committed citizens movement can change and improve the lives of this much exploited community for ever. “Justice for Sanitary Workers”, could indeed become one of important civil rights movement in the history of Pakistan.

Our aim is to join hands to achieve four specific reforms that have a critical impact upon the wellbeing and rights of sanitation workers.

Firstly, it is absolutely essential to ban all discriminatory advertisements that restrict the sanitation jobs to non-Muslims only. Such advertisements ought to be made a cognizable offence as they violate the very fundamentals of humanity as well as the

Constitution of Pakistan.

Second, regardless of the nature of employment (regular, contractual or daily wage), every sanitation worker ought to be paid a salary that is at least 50% higher than the national minimum legal wage. Currently most sanitation workers are denied even the

existing minimum wage.

Third, every sanitation worker employed by ANY organisation, in any form of employment, regular job, daily wages, or through a contractor should be issued a letter of appointment, registered with EOBI, enrolled with social security and provided medical leave and four weekly holidays.

Fourth, no sanitation worker must ever be required to enter a sewage gutter and mechanical means ought to be used instead, to replace the task of manual scavenging.

We plan to work in a unique way that enables every volunteer citizen to think, plan and act on his own, as well as collectively. The collective work would be coordinated by a dedicated whatsapp group. This platform would be used to provide information, give guidance, bring focus on specific organisations, issues or locations, describe different new techniques and approaches and call for members to take collective actions where

required. SIMULTANEOUSLY, each individual volunteer will act as an autonomous, self motivated and self driven volunteer and will post whatever independent actions are taken by him or her, (which could be in the form of research, writing or advocacy), so as to constantly provide information, ideas and inspiration to the rest of the group.

The civil rights movement of Justice for Sanitary Workers is an apolitical non-partisan and non-hierarchical citizens movement with no affiliations to any group, donor or ideology. Its only purpose is to work for justice and wellbeing of sanitary workers.

If you are deeply committed to the cause of the uplifting the downtrodden sanitation workers and are willing to PRACTICALLY PARTICIPATE AND CONTRIBUTE, towards their wellbeing – both as an independent self driven volunteer as well as a member of a

broader civil rights movement, here is an opportunity to do so.

Kindly confirm your willingness to participate.. (Please use inbox to message.).

Sincerely,

Naeem Sadiq