KWSC workers hold protest over pending demands, medical facility changes

KARACHI: Employees of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) staged a protest outside the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday, pressing the utility’s management and authorities to address what they described as longstanding grievances.

The demonstration was organised by the elected KWSC collective bargaining agent (CBA) and the Muttahida Workers Federation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan. Protesters carried banners and placards listing their demands, which included restoration of the medical facility, approval of the charter of demands submitted by the Muttahida Workers Front CBA, and an increase in salaries.

The workers also demanded immediate payment of dues to retired employees, workers who had resigned, and the families of deceased employees. The protest comes at a time when the water utility is already facing public criticism over a water supply crisis that, has continued for nearly three months in several parts of Karachi.

Claims over medical services outsourcing

Speaking at the protest, CBA Chairman Irshad Khan alleged irregularities in the outsourcing of KWSC’s medical services to a private insurance company and linked the matter to the interests of employees.

He said the welfare and future of workers were being put at risk for the benefit of the company. Khan also alleged that although the medical department had a budget allocation of Rs340 million, payments of Rs740 million were made to the insurance company on the instructions of the KWSC chairman.

“The employees’ welfare and their future are compromised to benefit the company. Despite the medical department having an allocated budget of Rs340 million, payments amounting to Rs740 million were made to the insurance at the behest of the KWSC chairman. We have documentary evidence of these transactions and can share with anyone who wants to challenge us,” he said.

Khan warned the administration against any move to end or reduce employees’ medical benefits. He said changes introduced in the medical system had created serious problems for workers and their families and had affected their access to healthcare.

MQM-P lawmakers attend sit-in

MQM-P members of the Sindh Assembly Abdul Waseem, Qurrat-ul-Ain, Muhammad Dilawar, Engineer Usman and Aamir Siddiqui attended the protest. MQM-P central office-bearers Masood Mahmood, Abdul Haseeb, Ashraf Ali and Labour Division In-charge Arshad Ansari were also present along with a large number of KWSC employees.

Addressing the gathering, MQM-P leaders expressed support for the workers’ demands and said they would raise the matter in the Sindh Assembly and before the relevant authorities. They said protecting workers’ rights and resolving their problems was the responsibility of the government and public institutions, and described continued neglect of these issues as unacceptable.

During his address, Khan said KWSC employees formed the backbone of Karachi’s water supply and sewerage system, but their rights and welfare concerns had been ignored for years. He also said rising inflation had put workers under severe financial strain, making salary increases and improved benefits an urgent issue.