To

The Prime Minister of Pakistan
Prime Minister Secretariat, Islamabad

Chief Minister of Punjab
Chief Minister House, Lahore-Pakistan

Mr. Ashraf Sohna
Provincial Minister of Labour , Civil Secretariat-Punjab
Lahore, Pakistan
Fax:: 92-42- 9211580

Secretary Labor Punjab
Civil Secretariat –Punjab, 2 Bank Road, Old P & D Building
Lahore Pakistan
Fax: 92-42-9211580

Subject : STOP Violation of Labour Laws in SVA Ruba Electronics Factory

Dear Minister,
We would like to draw your attention to the plight of workers in the “SVA Ruba Electronic Factory” which is a Joint Venture of China in Pakistan. The factory is located on Raiwind Road, Thokar Niaz Beg, Lahore. 150 workers of which 70 are women and 80 are men work in the factory.

The situation of workers in SVA Ruba Electronic is miserable. 90% workers have no appointment letters, they get less than minimum wages, have to do forced overtime. The management is violating labor laws and using terror tactics and resorting to violence against workers especially women workers.

On various instances in the month of May the factory management has locked workers either in the factory or out of the factory. Workers demanding their rights have been threatened by goons and thrown out of the factory. When the workers formed a union named “SVA Ruba Electronics Employees Union” and submitted an application to the Registrar of union in National Industrial Relation Commission (NIRC), the Chairman of NIRC gave the workers a “Stay Order” and instructed the management to not terminate any workers. Despite this order workers have been locked out of the factory and have been protesting in the hot sun for their jobs.

As Asian women workers movement, Committee for Asian Women joins Women Working Organisation (WWO) and All Pakistan Trade Union Federation and the workers of SVA Ruba factory in their struggle for their rights.
We forcefully call on you to meet the following demands:
Ø Immediately Reinstate Waheed Ul Haq
Ø Increase workers salary
Ø Recognize SVA Ruba Workers Union
Ø Stop Violating ILO Convention 98 and 87

Signed,

Lucia V Jayaseelan
Executive Coordinator
Committee for Asian Women
386/58 Soi Ratchadapisek 42,
Ladyao, Chatujak, Bangkok 10900
THAILAND
tel: +66 (0)2 930 5634 to 5
fax: +66 (0)2 930 5633

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