United for a cause: LHWs make their grievances heard
Lady health workers want their demands to be addressed
PHOTO: FILE
HYDERABAD:
Although the lady health workers (LHWs) were regularised as Sindh government's employees in September, 2014, their woes do not seem to be over as yet despite several years of their recurrent protests.
Grievances against the provincial government over salaries and other employment benefits were highlighted at a convention titled 'Campaign Against Stolen Wages' in Hyderabad on Saturday. All Sindh Lady Health Workers and Employees Association and Workers Education and Research Organization and Public Services International had organised the event at Sindh Museum's hall. They warned of protests in case their demands were not met.
"[Even though] our services were regularised two years ago, the provincial budget book still doesn't cite any sanction for our salaries," said the association's leader, Haleema Laghari. According to her, the Sindh government has yet to approve the scale-wise pay for the LHWs, lady health supervisors and other related staff.
Around 25,000 LHWs and lady health visitors were made employees of the Sindh government on the order of the Supreme Court in September, 2014.
Reading out the charter of demands on the occasion, the association's general secretary, Shama Gulani, demanded revision of their scales based on their qualification, payment of outstanding dues since 2011, pension and gratuity.
The charter also called for grant of maternity leave and medical facilities, compensation for LHWs who have suffered attacks during fieldwork, security during polio campaigns and protection against sexual harassment at workplace.
The association warned of resorting to street demonstrations again if their demands go unheard.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 19th, 2016.
Although the lady health workers (LHWs) were regularised as Sindh government's employees in September, 2014, their woes do not seem to be over as yet despite several years of their recurrent protests.
Grievances against the provincial government over salaries and other employment benefits were highlighted at a convention titled 'Campaign Against Stolen Wages' in Hyderabad on Saturday. All Sindh Lady Health Workers and Employees Association and Workers Education and Research Organization and Public Services International had organised the event at Sindh Museum's hall. They warned of protests in case their demands were not met.
"[Even though] our services were regularised two years ago, the provincial budget book still doesn't cite any sanction for our salaries," said the association's leader, Haleema Laghari. According to her, the Sindh government has yet to approve the scale-wise pay for the LHWs, lady health supervisors and other related staff.
Around 25,000 LHWs and lady health visitors were made employees of the Sindh government on the order of the Supreme Court in September, 2014.
Reading out the charter of demands on the occasion, the association's general secretary, Shama Gulani, demanded revision of their scales based on their qualification, payment of outstanding dues since 2011, pension and gratuity.
The charter also called for grant of maternity leave and medical facilities, compensation for LHWs who have suffered attacks during fieldwork, security during polio campaigns and protection against sexual harassment at workplace.
The association warned of resorting to street demonstrations again if their demands go unheard.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 19th, 2016.