Gadani Beach, Pakistan is one of the largest ship breaking sites in the world. The working conditions have long been recognised as unacceptable by human rights and environmentalist campaigners. One of the greatest dangers is the many hazardous materials and gases such as Asbestos, TBTs, and PCBs that the large beached ships are known to contain.

The strike, which started on Monday 5th July 2010 is said to continue until the workers needs are met. Their requests of clean drinking water and paramedics along with a 100% pay increase are not greedy considering the labour intensity and risk scale of the job. A previous strike in June was lifted when the owners of Gadani agreed to meet workers needs. However this promise was not kept and the strikers have now commenced an ongoing strike until drastic changes are made by owners.

Further protests have now commenced against police control in Karachi city after both union and strike leaders were arrested. Protesters are further enraged by a police baton charge against the Gadani strikers. Threats have now been made by workers to block the Quetta-Karachi highway, so the strikes and protests appear to be ongoing.

Measures are beginning to take shape in the shipping industry to combat the anti-humanitarian working conditions along with the negative environmental impact of the release of hazardous materials from the ship dismantling process. The IMO agency of the United Nations along with conventions such as the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships 2009 are producing requirements that all ships hold a ‘green passport’ detailing the hazardous materials present on ship. Coupled with the escalating need for big businesses to show corporate social responsible (CSR) initiatives, it can only be hoped that both working and health conditions for the workers of ship breaking yards such as Gadani can be improved quickly and successfully.

References:
• The News International: 6th July 2010
• Daily Times: 7th July 2010