They Kept Karachi Clean, Now 29 Workers Are Out of Jobs
News Desk
Karachi: The termination of 29 daily-wage employees by the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) has triggered concerns over transparency and fairness in public-sector employment, with the affected workers claiming they have become casualties of an administrative transition rather than any shortcomings in their performance.
An official notification issued by the SSWMB on 27 July 2026 states that the services of 29 daily-wage employees will stand discontinued after office hours on 31 July 2026.
According to the order [ documents are available with The PenPK.com], the decision was made following the recommendations of a committee formed to verify records and assess daily-wage staff, and was approved by the competent authority.
However, the dismissed employees have challenged the decision, arguing that it does not reflect their work performance or attendance.
Instead, they allege that the terminations were influenced by their perceived association with the administration of the former Managing Director, who left office on 6 July 2026 following a notification issued by the Chief Secretary of Sindh.
The workers maintain that many of them had served the organisation for years without receiving adverse performance reports or disciplinary action. They say they carried out their duties diligently and question the criteria used to determine who would lose their jobs.
For the affected workers, the decision carries consequences beyond employment. As daily-wage earners, they generally lack long-term job security, employment benefits, and financial protection.
The sudden loss of income, they say, places their families at immediate risk, making it difficult to meet essential expenses such as food, rent, healthcare, and children’s education.
The incident has also renewed debate over employment practices within public institutions. Labour rights advocates have long argued that hiring and termination decisions should be based on transparent procedures, documented performance, and objective criteria rather than changes in administrative leadership or perceived affiliations.
They maintain that consistent and impartial employment practices are essential for protecting workers’ rights and maintaining public confidence in state institutions.
The dismissed employees have appealed to SSWMB Chairman Barrister Murtaza Wahab to order an impartial review of the committee’s findings. They have requested that the decision be reassessed and that any employee found to have been removed without fair and objective justification be reinstated.
The controversy is likely to attract the attention of labour rights organisations and civil society groups, as it raises broader questions about due process, institutional accountability, and the treatment of financially vulnerable workers in Pakistan’s public sector.
