The sanitation services, already in shambles across the province, came to a halt on Monday due to strike of the sanitation workers of the local government department.
The employees held protest demonstrations at their respective offices, shouted slogans in favour of their demand of online payment of salaries through the treasury department. Corrupt officials keep their cut in handing cash to sweepers, they said adding that the lowest grade employees were harassed and financially exploited by their immediate bosses.
Keeping brooms aside and garbage trolleys parked, the sanitary workers claimed that no sewerage drains were cleaned, streets and roads were not cleaned and no dumped garbage was lifted.
Though, the situation remains the same around the year, the protestors say, strike of sanitary workers will leave piles of garbage in the cities.
All Pakistan Local Government Workers Federation (APLGF) Sindh President Hafiz Mushtaque Ahmed Korejo, General Secretary Abdul Hadi Markhiyani, Zulfiqar Dahani, Nabi Bux Khoso, Hasnain Laghari and others said that instead of Rs40,000, employees are given Rs10,000 as monthly salary.
They said illegal deduction of employees' salaries is made from 93% union councils of Sindh due to which poor government servants have been economically destroyed.
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The union leaders said they have been demanding salaries through the existing online system but nobody paid any heed due to which many employees are facing starvation.
They said they will not resume their work until proper notification is issued and handed over to us. They once again demanded salaries through the online system because, they argued, when all are equal in the eye of law then why they have been discriminated against.
Meanwhile, heaps of garbage were seen at dumping places in Larkana city, Ratodero, Naundero and elsewhere which was not removed due to the strike by the local bodies employees causing bad smell and highly polluted atmosphere.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 30th, 2021.
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