At loggerheads: Verbal assurances unlikely to appease HEC employees

Commission’s ED defended decisions made by governing body on April 9.

ISLAMABAD:

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Executive Director Dr Mukhtar Ahmed drew mixed reactions from staffers on Monday as he urged them to remain calm over controversial decisions the commission had taken recently.

During a meeting on April 9, the HEC governing body had ruffled many feathers by revoking a decision to increase compensation
rates for all employees by 20 per cent.

Other contentious decisions, for which committees were formed
to reach amicable solutions, also irked many HEC staffers.

Following the meeting, employees had requested the Officers Welfare Association to address the issues and refer them to the commission’s top brass.

Staffers called on Ahmed to take them into confidence about HEC’s future strategy and any welfare and development steps.

“I promise all of you that no such decision will be made to undermine the performance of juniors, and that nobody will be bypassed while taking a decision,” said Ahmed.

He confirmed that objections were raised to the compensation revocation issue on a technicality, which led to the formation of a committee to look into the matter thoroughly.

Ahmed was of the view that employees would be better off examining
their contributions to the HEC before requesting for more perks and privileges and complaining about the lack of development projects.

Responding to a question from an employee inquiring about the non-promotion of technical cadres, Ahmed said, “You were promoted from grade 11 to 14 and have visited foreign countries for training, so be thankful to the HEC putting you in such a privileged position.”

Ahmed said the HEC was consulting the Establishment Division and other concerned parties over the legal approval procedure for the commission’s regulations,
an issue he added had sparked controversy during the last executive director’s tenure.

“This is another stunt to avoid employee protests, and calm any fears through verbal assurances,” said an HEC Quality Assurance Department employee.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 16^th, 2013.