PAME expresses its solidarity with the people of Pakistan who are facing heavy rains and floods that left dozens of people dead and displaced. Among the victims are also workers of the coal mines in Orazkai region, where 30 coal miners were trapped and 8 never went back home, after the mine collapsed because of the heavy rain.

The consequences of natural disasters are not “natural”, but have class criterion, as the poor are those who suffer, while the rich are protected. Many “accidents” in the workplaces could have been prevented if the necessary health and safety measures were imposed. People in the popular neighborhoods would have been protected if the necessary civil protection measures had been implemented.

 We express our moral support and solidarity with the victims and the labor movement of Pakistan. We call the government of Pakistan to immediately take all necessary relief measures for those affected by the floods and also take all necessary protection measures so that tragedies like this one never happen again.

Athens, March 22, 2016