Administration to take immediate steps for implementation of ILO safety standards in the stone grinding factories

Lahore: Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has directed the concerned departments to take immediate steps for implementation of international benchmark labour safety standards in the stone grinding factories of the province for which Punjab government has formulated draft rules to ensure occupational safety and health measures after consultation with stakeholders.

This was stated by Minister Labour and Human Resources Punjab Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, presiding 2^nd meeting of the high level committee set up by CM Punjab to cater this issue.

According to details, 18 labourers of Sialkot and Gujranwala quartz stone grinding factories had died due to silicon oxide, taking notice of which, Chief Minister Punjab approved a special compensation grant of Rs.5.4 million for the heirs of the deceased labourers along with formulating a high level committee comprising Secretaries of Labour, Industries and Mines Departments, Commissioner Social Security, representative of ILO and concerned chambers.

The Committee will submit its report to Chief Minister Punjab after taking stock of the working condition of stone grinding factories within three weeks.

Raja Ashfaq Sarwar is its convener and 2^nd meeting of this committee was held today to introduce draft rules for occupational safety and health measures to the committee members. Commissioner Social Security Ishrat Ali, DG Environmental Protection Sh. Hameed Farooq, Director Industries, Inspector Mines, Chairman All Pakistan Stone Grinding Mills Association Iftikhar Bashir and other concerned officers attended the meeting.

Director Laboure Hasnaat Javed briefed the meeting about the new suggestions made to formulate draft rules regarding hazardous occupations related to silicon oxide. He told that children and adolescent were be prohibited, limitations of affected areas of silicon will be determined, fitness labourers and their medical check up would be compulsory while engineering control and dust pollution safety measures would be made with the technical consultation of PCSIR, Engineering and Punjab Universities while special safety clothes and expiratory equipments will be ensured by the factories owners.