HESCO workers protest against management

Employees were being transferred to remote areas to thwart campaign against electricity theft, protect officers

HYDRABAD:

The Central Bargaining Authority (CBA) union of Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has demanded hiring on vacancies in Hyderabad Electric Company (Hesco) and a stop to forcing technicians to work for extended hours due to staff shortage.

The All Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Hydro Electric Workers Union organised a rally from Labour Hall Gari Khata to Hyderabad Press Club for their demands.

Hundreds of representatives and workers of Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO), National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) and Water Wings participated in the rally.

All Pakistan WAPDA Hydro Electric Workers Union CBA Central President Abdul Latif Nizamani while addressing the protest rally of WAPDA employees in front of the press club said that the energy department is facing a shortage of more than 80,000 employees, but the Federal Energy secretary was not issuing orders for recruitment.

He said that while the energy department was not hiring the required workers, it was forcing the staff members to put in more hours and even work on weekends. Due to the pressure of work and irregular working hours, employees were suffering accidents.

Nizamani further said that management the management blames staff for theft, whereas the officers have worn gloves on their hands to hide corruption. HESCO and SEPCO employees were being transferred to remote areas to thwart the campaign against electricity theft and protect the officers running power theft rackets for industries and large farms.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2023.