Sanitary staff threaten to go on strike
The Punjab Health Department has cancelled the Sunday leave of all male and female Sanitary Patrol Workers in the Rawalpindi district.
The department has also begun to deduct salaries of those workers who take a gazetted leave on Sunday. Because of these deductions, that amount to anywhere between Rs2,000 to Rs3,000, female workers have decided to go on strike.
They have also threatened to stage a protest in front of the District Health Officer’s office. They added that the coronavirus and dengue emergencies had subsided, but the health department expected them to perform their duty from 8am to 8pm every day. Some even complained that by virtue of being a woman, they had to complete weekly chores around the house, but were unable to do so.
Currently, lady workers who do not show up on Sundays lose a day’s pay, receive show cause notices, and are also allegedly subjected to threats of dismissal, and blackmailing. A complaint has also been lodged with the Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner on the matter.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 30th, 2021.