Back to KESC: Reinstated workers return to ‘redundant’ jobs

Utility says it will continue to improve performance.

KARACHI: Over 4,000 newly reinstated Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) workers resumed their duty on Monday.

They belonged to non-core functioning staff and included drivers, bill distributers, clerical staffers, sweepers and other janitorial staff.

Shaban, incharge of billing at the Awami Markaz, said that there was nothing better in the world than resuming her duty. Her husband had died in an accident and her employment here is the sole source of income.

Meanwhile, KESC issued a statement on Monday, saying that it would continue to take concrete steps to improve the power supply system in the city, with the firm conviction that the interests of its customers are first priority.

“Radical and bold measures are most essential to bring much expected improvement to the electricity supply system” read the statement. The KESC believes that difficult decisions are required to achieve this objective, without which it is impossible to bring improvements to the system that has deteriorated over the years because of sheer negligence and lack of planning.

“Although our effort couldn’t bear fruit, we still believe the intent was right for providing better service to the people” stated the press release.

The KESC has a gigantic task to accomplish, of converting a previously half-functioning government department with a track record of minimal performance into an efficient and swiftly moving public service private company.

Another KESC official was having trouble concealing his anger at the decision to reinstate the workers.

He said that the KESC had been trying to improve efficiency and so had made retrenchments but the authorities did not listen to them. Since KESC is being prevented from making improvement, then nobody should ask for better services, he added.

Meanwhile, the workers back on duty might have some grudges still but at the same time, they promised to perform better.

A bill distributer in New Karachi said that coming back to work made him feel honoured. “I’m going to work harder for the KESC, the city and my family”.

PPP press conference

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Karachi Division President Najmi Alam warned the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) to avoid ‘anti-worker policies’ in future. He was addressing a joint press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Monday.

“KESC apna qibla darust karley (KESC should start heading in the right direction),” said Alam. “The PPP government would not tolerate any step against the workers that could pose a threat to the law and order.” PPP Karachi Division General Secretary Saeed Ghani said that the government has extended the benefits of the Employees Old Age Benefit Institute (EOBI) while the Universal Labour Registration is working to register all labourers, he claimed.

PPP Karachi Division Information Secretary Lateef Mughal said that the KESC is getting electricity from WAPDA for “nearly no charges” while the utility owes Rs50 billion to WAPDA. “The privatisation of the KESC should be cancelled,” he demanded.

Hussain lauds decision

Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain lauded the decision to reinstate the KESC workers during a telephonic address at MQM headquarters 90 on Monday. “The KESC management must take care of its workers,” he cautioned.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th, 2011.