Utility Stores seek to avoid strikes, ensure smooth supply of items

Summary for implementation of essential services act sent to cabinet

ISLAMABAD: The Utility Stores Corporation has decided to implement the essential services act for six months in a bid to avoid any potential protest or demonstration by the employees so that uninterrupted supply of items to the masses could be ensured.

“The coronavirus pandemic is an emergency situation in which keeping the stores closed is out of the question,” USC Managing Director Umer Lodhi said. “Under the act, the protesting employees can be arrested and laid off.”

On the Ministry of Industries and Production’s request, the interior ministry has forwarded the summary for the implementation of the essential services act to the federal cabinet.

The USC MD said that they were implementing the essential services act to ensure smooth supply of items to the masses, as according to him, “employees were going on strikes whenever they felt like it. This will not happen now”.

“We increased the salaries of the employees and even gave them honorary awards during the holy month of Ramazan. But going on a strike, despite all these measures, does not make sense.”

Lodhi claimed that the USC was the only organisation that increased salaries of and gave honorary awards to its employees during the coronavirus pandemic.

1,000 more foodstuff subsidised at Utility Stores

“The USC sales during previous Ramazan were of Rs3 billion while in this year the sales were recorded at Rs22 billion,” Lodhi said, adding that the main objective of the USC is to provide affordable and quality items.

“We cannot allow any sort of a strike during the ongoing coronavirus situation,” Lodhi said, vowing to facilitate the masses come what may.

Arif Shah, the chairman of the USC Employees Union, said, “Implementing the essential services act is tantamount to usurping the rights of the employees.”

He accused the USC management of diverting the government’s attention “to hide its own corruption”.

“Implementing the essential services act would be an unconstitutional step,” Shah said, warning that if the government makes such a move, they would move the court.

He urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to form a parliamentary committee for the sole purpose of ensuring provision of legal rights to the USC employees.