A 33-year-old Christian sanitation worker in Pakistan has died after being forced to enter a deep sewer system, raising fresh concerns over unsafe working conditions.
Shabbir Masih died in the early hours of 7 May after inhaling toxic gases while working inside a 25-foot-deep sewer operated by the Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA). Another worker who entered the sewer with him fell seriously ill but later recovered.
According to Masih’s family, he had repeatedly refused to enter the sewer over the course of several days due to safety concerns. His wife said he believed the task was extremely dangerous and had expressed fear that he was being pressured into doing it.
She said officials later came to their home late at night and took him away for the job despite his reluctance. He was sent underground alongside another Christian worker, Sanwal, into contaminated water and hazardous gas conditions.
Masih died inside the sewer, while his colleague became critically unwell and was rushed to hospital. His body was later recovered and left on the roadside, with authorities reportedly telling the family to collect it themselves.
The family has demanded justice, saying he was forced into unsafe work against his will. WASA has denied responsibility, stating that Masih was working as a contractor.
His death has once again highlighted long-standing concerns about the treatment of Christian sanitation workers in Pakistan. Although Christians make up a small percentage of the population, they reportedly form a large share of those employed in sanitation work, often in the most hazardous roles.
Human rights groups and advocacy organisations have raised concerns that many workers are given little to no protective equipment or safety training. Refusal to carry out dangerous tasks can also lead to the loss of employment, leaving many workers with few alternatives as primary earners for their families.
Reports over the years have documented multiple deaths linked to sewer work, with concerns that contract-based hiring systems are used to limit accountability and avoid providing long-term protections or insurance for workers.
The latest incident has renewed calls for stronger labour protections and greater accountability in Pakistan’s sanitation sector, particularly for vulnerable communities working in high-risk conditions.
This article is rewritten based on the reporting from ICC.
