Rs11.68b released to pay dues to ex-Pakistan Steel Mills workers

Steel mill deposit money with SHC nazir after receiving it from federal govt

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Steel Mills on Wednesday deposited Rs11.68 billion with the Sindh High Court nazir for the payment of outstanding dues to its retired and sacked employees after receiving the money from the federal government.

A total of 3,300 former employees, who had not approached the court for the payment of their dues, will start receiving their dues from December 20.

The lawyer for the steel mill told the court that the workers who would be paid their dues include those who retired between 1981 and May 12, 2020. The total number also includes the employees whose services were terminated. The dues will be paid to the heirs of those workers who have passed away.

Last month, the SHC had directed the accountant general of Pakistan (revenues) to ensure that the finance division released Rs11.68 billion to be deposited into the account of the Pakistan Steel Mills so that outstanding dues of the workers could be paid.

An SHC division bench, headed by Justice Nadeem Akhtar, also directed the PSM to deposit that amount with the nazir of the court within three days after receiving it.

The sum of Rs11.680 billion had been released for the retired employees who had not approached the court for receiving their outstanding dues.

The court issued the directions on petitions filed by the retired employees of steel mill against the non-payment of their gratuities, leave encashment and provident funds since 2013.

Last month, the PSM had announced its decision to sack over 4,500 of its employees.

In June, the PTI led federal government had decided to terminate all 9,350 PSM employees, taking a giant but politically difficult step to stop years long hemorrhaging instead of reviving the industrial unit.

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on June 3 also approved to give the employees due monetary benefits along with one month salary that would cost the exchequer Rs18 billion to Rs19.7 billion. On an average, every sacked employee was estimated to receive Rs2.3 million.

“The ECC gave go-ahead to a ‘full and final’ human resource rationalization plan for the PSM employees in accordance with the judgments and observations of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and other courts hearing the cases involving the PSM,” the Ministry of Finance had said in a statement.

According to a PSM spokesperson, the sacked employees belong to Group 2, 3 and 4 and include junior officers, assistant managers, deputy managers, managers, SEDGM and DCO employees.

However, teachers and non-teaching staff of PSM schools and colleges; drivers, firemen, fire tenders operators, public health staff, security guards and watchmen, gardeners, paramedical staff, kitchen staff, office staff and workers of all departments of finance directorate will continue performing their duties.