[Current Affairs] December 23,2020 Top Pakistan Current Affairs for FPSC Test Preparation

2. The alleged exploitation of Pakistani workers

What’s going on? British fast fashion brand, Boohoo, reportedly sells clothes made by Pakistani factory workers. An investigation by The Guardian revealed that Pakistani workers making clothes for Boohoo are possibly being exploited.

The details: Workers at two factories in Faisalabad claimed they were paid PKR 10,000 a month, which is below the legal monthly minimum wage of PKR 17,500 for unskilled labor. Workers also said they’re facing “appalling conditions,” and earn as little as 29p an hour.

Tell me more: Documentary, video and photographic evidence appears to support claims of safety issues as well. For example, motorbikes are parked indoors next to flammable materials like cardboard boxes. Piles of fabric are stacked up in walkways and near a boiler. Sometimes, workers have done 24-hour shifts to make clothes for the western market in a rush.

Looking ahead: When The Guardian approached Boohoo about its findings, the company suspended a supplier, JD Fashion Ltd, and a factory, AH Fashion, from its supply chain while launching an investigation. JD Fashion (not related to JD Sports) has reportedly supplied Boohoo with items produced at AH Fashion.

Back-and-forth claims: Boohoo claimed that a third-party audit at AH Fashion showed the factory didn’t have any problems. Boohoo’s own auditors said the factory was a construction site, and was closed throughout November. AH Fashion, and another factory, Madina Gloves, said they weren’t currently supplying Boohoo. However, workers claim they recently made clothes for Boohoo at Madina Gloves, and were at AH Fashion despite reports about it being closed for construction. Also, The Guardian reportedly bought a Boohoo tracksuit this month, which appeared to match fabrics and labels seen in video footage from AH Fashion.

The bottom line: Even though Boohoo has a code of conduct for suppliers, with a list of minimum standards, some workers in Faisalabad-based factories claim they are:

• Paid less than the legal minimum wage.
• Ordered to work unreasonably long shifts without full overtime pay.
• Working in foul conditions.

3. Blast at Karachi ice factory

At least eight people were killed, and over 35 injured, when the boiler at an ice factory in Karachi exploded on Tuesday evening. The factory’s ceilings collapsed. Rescue workers tried to help people buried underneath the rubble. The number of casualties might increase. Nearby witnesses claimed the entire site was covered in dust and smoke. Other factories and workshops in the area were also affected. Sindh Chief Minister, Murad Ali Shah, ordered the labor department to investigate whether the ice factory was legal. The labor department’s safety team will also check if the boilers were ever inspected.