by Muhammad Ali
End-subcontracting @ LUMS is an active student, staff, workers, and faculty led movement at LUMS that has been campaigning to end the subcontracting of janitorial staff through third party contractors like MBM. The movement initially gained momentum in 2020, when the provost formed a formal faculty committee to examine, in depth, the aspects of subcontracting at LUMS. In 2021, the committee reported subcontracting as the crux of the problem and suggested direct hiring as the only viable solution. Fast forward to 2026, direct hiring, which was suggested to be the only “viable solution”, is not even close to being implemented. This led to the movement being revived.
With the movement being revived, its first public meeting of this academic year was held on Thursday, 24th September 2026. The meeting saw a significant number of students in attendance, with many freshman joining to learn more about the movement and the issue of subcontracting at LUMS. The meeting aimed to introduce newer students to the movement, its history, and the realities that are faced by the subcontracted workers on campus. Speakers discussed what subcontracting is, how it operates at LUMS, and its effects on the workers, while worker testimonials and accounts from the 2021 committee report were discussed to provide firsthand perspective on these issues. The meeting also touched upon some of the concerns that have emerged more recently, such as the overworking of workers during university events without any additional compensation, disparities among workers, and instances of mistreatment by the supervisors.
To provide some context on the seriousness of these concerns, one of the speakers reflected on the 2021 MBM committee report, highlighting its key findings and sharing worker testimonials from the report. These included the case of Mr. Shahid Saleem, who was allegedly fired after taking a few days of leave, even when the leave was taken at the discretion of his supervisor. Ms. Shiza Shahid was also allegedly fired for not fulfilling the demands of her supervisor, demands which were outside the limits of her contractual obligations. One of the most serious testimonies was given by a female worker who alleged that she had been sexually assaulted by her supervisor. Upon reporting the incident, with support from her female colleagues, she, alongside the colleagues who helped her, was allegedly subjected to threats and intimidation, and their contracts were later terminated. These were presented as only a few of the many accounts that actually happened, while there must be many workers who may not have even come forward due to the pressure they face from supervisors.
The discussion of the meeting was then directed to the committee’s recommendation from the 2021 report, which, as mentioned before, was to move towards direct hiring of the workers by LUMS. It was emphasized that the recommendation was not only based on financial considerations but also on the possibility of creating a much more satisfied workforce whose labor rights are fulfilled.
Lastly, the meeting revisited the movement’s efforts from the previous academic year. After a few initial public meetings, a petition signed by more than 800 people, including students and faculty, with a list of demands was submitted to the Vice Chancellor’s office. A few weeks later, a rather disappointing response was received from the Vice Chancellor’s end. While the issue in itself was acknowledged, the email mentioned that a committee to oversee the issue would be formed. However, considering such a committee had been formed back in 2020 and its recommendations had not been implemented, the movement viewed the proposed committee as just another way to delay and deviate from the issue. As a result, this response was rejected by the movement, and a sit-in outside VC’s office was hosted as a form of protest. During the protest, students conversed with Dr Ali Khan, the DEAN of HSS, where the students questioned the university’s response to their demands. Throughout the interaction, the students stood firm on their beliefs that subcontracting must be put to an end and that no form of delay in the process would be accepted. The speaker also mentioned the highly misleading letter that MBM allegedly forced its janitorial staff to sign. Lastly, a May Day Protest was held in May, which has been, by far, the biggest and most impactful protest, with an attendance greater than ever.
The meeting concluded with a call for action, discussing the potential next steps that are meant to be taken in the days to follow. The existing team also collected sign-ups from students interested in joining the movement to increase participation and their impact. The speakers also shared the movement’s Instagram handle, @endsubcontractingatlums, and encouraged members of the student body interested in staying updated to follow the movement and join the group.
With subcontracting continuing to affect the lives and working conditions of a large number of workers at LUMS, this meeting was a reminder of the importance of being aware of the issues taking place around campus. For students, especially those who have only recently joined LUMS, learning about the movement and the experiences of the workers it represents is an important first step towards understanding the issue and the ongoing efforts to address it.