Thousands of sanitation workers including Christian workers staged a major protest in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, on April 18, voicing their opposition to the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) continued efforts to privatise sanitation services through private companies. The demonstration was organised by the CDA Mazdoor Union, the officially recognised Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA) for sanitation workers in the establishment of Capital Development Authority.

For several years, the CDA has pursued efforts to privatise the Sanitation Directorate. In 2017 also, a similar attempt was met with strong resistance from the union, which organised protests and sought legal intervention. The court granted relief in favour of the workers, effectively halting the privatisation move.

The current move involves the establishment of a Solid Waste Management Company tasked with taking over sanitation services through a formal tendering process. The creation of a separate waste management company poses a direct threat to public sector employment and undermines the rights of sanitation workers. It raises serious concerns about the future of more than 2,000 sanitation workers employed in Islamabad.

Initially scheduled for April 12, the tendering was postponed due to widespread protests. The CDA Mazdoor Union approached the National Industrial Relations Commission in Islamabad and has been granted a stay order till May 5. Thus, the tendering process has been stopped for now.

Speaking about the CDA’s move, Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin, Secretary General of the Pakistan Workers Federation and a senior leader of the CDA Mazdoor Union, stated, “The proposed privatisation of sanitation services is unacceptable. These workers have played an essential role in maintaining the capital’s cleanliness and should not be subjected to such uncertainty.”

Asad Mehmood, Additional General Secretary, CDA Mazdoor Union added, “If this decision is not reversed, we will consider escalating our response, including the possibility of a city-wide strike. We urge the authorities to engage in dialogue and withdraw the tender process.” The management of CDA will take onboard to CDA Mazdoor Union being a collective bargaining agent.

Protesters are also raising a particular concern regarding the treatment of the Christian sanitation workers, who often face discriminatory practices and are among the most affected by such policy decisions.

Union leaders called on Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and CDA Chairman Chaudhry Muhammad Ali Randhawa to intervene immediately, withdraw the privatisation tender, and protect the rights and livelihoods of the city’s sanitation workforce.

The CDA has 15,000 employees who keep the city functioning. Any attempt to privatise core services without consultation is deeply unjust. The union said that they remain committed to peaceful negotiations but will not hesitate to defend workers’ rights through collective action.