Employee unions announce sit-in on Feb 10

The employee unions of various government agencies in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and Punjab have announced a sit-in at Islamabad D-Chowk on February 10.

The protesters’ demands include calls for a raise in salaries, inflation allowance, upgrading of Basic Pay Scales (BOS), addressing problems faced by lady health workers, and revamping the overall service structure.

Preparations for the sit-in, which will be held under the grand alliance of organisations across Punjab and the federal government institutions, have already begun. Teachers, clerks, lady health workers and non-teaching staff have also announced their full participation in the sit-in.

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Talking to The Express Tribune, teachers Muhammad Shafiq Bhalwalia, Basharat Iqbal Raja, and Akhiyan Gul, accompanied by the All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA) President Chaudhry Mubashir Ahmed, and APCA Colleges Wing President Jamil Awan collectively said that inflation had risen exponentially. They echoed the sentiment that record targets for tax in mini budget had further increased the economic burden.

The president demanded the immediate introduction of an inflation allowance, upgrading the BPS system, protecting jobs, and abolishing the contract and daily wage employment system. He pushed for recruitment on a regular basis, and the regularisation of promotions.

He said was that while the charter of demands had been submitted to the government, no progress had been made on the matter. “Therefore, it has been decided to hold a sit-in on February 10 in Islamabad,” he said.

Employees from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) will also participate in the sit-in. A large procession of employees from Rawalpindi will leave Murree Road on the morning of February 10.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2022.