Sit-In Announced: Salary through cheque enrages workers

The labour unions have announced they will observe a ‘black day’ against the decision.

LAHORE: The Pakistan Railways (PR) decision to pay salaries to its 8,000 employees through cheques instead of cash has sparked agitation by the employees. The labour unions have announced they will observe a ‘black day’ on Wednesday against the decision. They said it was aimed at victimising the workers for waging a movement against corruption and revival of the organisation. Deputy Public Relations Officer, Abdul Hameed Razi, said that the decision was taken in compliance with the directives issued by the Supreme Court during its recent proceedings regarding the railways. He said that the move was to ensure transparency in the departmental expenditures. Sheikh Muhammad Anwar, secretary of Rail Bachao Ittehad, an alliance of various labour unions, said that a sit-in and protest demonstration will be held near the PR Headquarters in Lahore.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2012.