Three sanitary workers died after suffocation in sewage line in TM Khan

HYDERABAD: Three sanitary workers died from suffocation while cleaning a sewage drain in Tando Muhammad Khan on Wednesday (June 12), media reported.

The work on cleaning sewage and storm drains in Tando Muhammad Khan commenced on the directions of the local government and district administration.

A sanitary worker initially entered a manhole of the drain to clean it. When he did not return for some time, his two colleagues became worried and entered the drain to save him but they also did not return.

Rescue teams were called and the three men were retrieved from the drain after several hours. They were transferred to a hospital where doctors confirmed their deaths.

The deceased sanitary workers were identified as Younis Masih, Chaman and Younis Hidayat. Their families staged a sit-in against their deaths resulting in a traffic jam at Sajawal Road and raised slogans against the district administration.

Municipal Chairman Syed Shahnawaz Shah reached the sit-in and held talks with the heirs. He announced compensation for the deceased sanitary workers and the protestors ended the sit-in.

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt, Vice Chairperson Kazi Khizr held a press conference on the rights of sanitary workers.

Addressing the media, Butt said government did not pay attention to the issues of sanitary workers. He announced that the HRCP was issuing a model national policy framework for the sanitary workers.

He said that on the advertisements for the jobs of sanitary workers, it was written that only non-Muslims should apply. He added that sanitary workers were now being hired on a temporary basis or through third-party contracts.

The HRCP termed these all facts violations of the law and fundamental rights of workers. He demanded that sanitary workers should be recruited directly and those who were being paid monthly salaries less than the minimum salary be paid according to the law.

The HRCP chairperson said that government institutions did not ensure availability of instruments to check oxygen level inside sewers. . He lamented that sanitary workers were not being given equal rights in offices, and safety measures for them were completely ignored.

Mr Khizr said sanitary workers should be given permanent employment and their contract or job document should be unambiguous and female sanitary workers should be given maternity leave for six months.

He also called for insurance and old-age benefit facilities for sanitary workers by registration in the social security department. He demanded that machinery be used instead of humans for cleaning sewage drains and big gutters.

He mentioned that from 2022 to June 2024, 11 sanitary workers died due to a lack of sanitary safety kits in various districts of Sindh.