“Discriminatory Treatment of Baloch Employees by Chinese Company in Reko Diq Project Is Intolerable”: National Party Chagai

NOKUNDI (Daily Qudrat) — National Party Chagai, expressing severe grief and anger over the alleged discriminatory and unfair treatment of Baloch employees by a company named Chinese Company working in the Reko Diq project, has said that the Chinese company’s policy of imposing strictness and restrictions on Baloch employees while providing special concessions and facilities to employees coming from Punjab and Sindh is by no means acceptable.

In its strict and unequivocal statement, the National Party said that Reko Diq is an important project linked to Balochistan’s land and resources; therefore, any kind of discriminatory treatment of local and Baloch employees working here compared to employees coming from other provinces is injustice and a condemnable act.

It said that Baloch employees, at the time of departure on leave, are allegedly left stranded at Gate Number Six, from where they have to endure difficulties themselves to reach their native areas, while deductions for going on leave are also allegedly made from their salaries. On the other hand, employees coming from outside are provided travel facilities by air to Karachi and then from Karachi to their native areas. This is a clear and unjustifiable discrimination between employees working in the same institution.

The statement said that the policy of considering local Baloch employees as mere labourers in the company will no longer be tolerated. Employees who are performing their services in a difficult and remote area like Reko Diq are also entitled to respect, equal rights, proper travel facilities and other concessions.

It said that Baloch employees have repeatedly informed RDMC authorities of their complaints and reservations, but instead of taking these complaints seriously, they are being ignored. The National Party made clear that brushing complaints aside is not a solution to the problem; rather, it will further increase unrest and a sense of deprivation among employees.

The National Party, seeking an immediate explanation from RDMC and the senior authorities of the relevant company, demanded that an impartial investigation be conducted into the alleged discriminatory treatment meted out to Baloch employees, a uniform policy be implemented for travel facilities during leave, the alleged salary deductions be accounted for, and if any employee has been subjected to unlawful deduction, the amount be returned.

The leaders said in unequivocal terms that Reko Diq is in Balochistan, its resources belong to Balochistan, and no one can be allowed to consider local employees here as inferior to an employee from any other province. The company and relevant authorities must end the impression that there is a separate standard for Baloch employees and a separate one for employees from other provinces.

They warned that if the complaints of Baloch employees are not redressed immediately and the alleged discriminatory policy is not ended, the National Party will not remain silent on this matter but will raise it forcefully at every available legal and democratic forum, before relevant authorities and public representatives. The leaders said that in Balochistan, in the name of employment and development, violating the basic rights of any local resident is not acceptable, and no compromise will be made on the rights of employees.