HARIPUR, Dec 16: Speakers at a seminar have said that a number of industrial workers have lost their lives due to lack of safety equipment and measures at the Hattar industrial estate.

They said many more workers were forced to work under highly hazardous conditions without having any social security cover provided to them in case of any physical harm.

The seminar on the topic of health was arranged by the Sungi Development Foundation Haripur here on Tuesday.

Tehsil nazim Iftikhar Khan, acting DCO Syed Hassnain Kazmi, labours’ representative, councillors, social workers, line agencies and representatives of various NGOs also participated in the seminar.

A labour leader Zahoor Awan pointed out that the industrialists of Hattar were in violation of labour laws, depriving the workers of their due right of safety measures due to which a number of industrial workers had been killed.

He said majority of workers including women at the HIE were deprived of social security cover whereas it was mandatory under the IRO 1969 and 2002. He demanded of the government of early implementation of IRO 2002 and payment of wages to the industrial workers accordingly.