Staffers demand payment of dues, termination of managing director. PHOTO: tourism.gov.pk
More than a dozen employees of PTDC staged a sit-in on June 17 in a camp outside the G-B Assembly, hoping their demands – which include payment of dues – will eventually be accepted. However, 10 days on, their demands are yet to be met.
“We want our dues of nearly 18 months to be paid. This is one of our demands,” said an employee, Akbar Khan.
In addition, the employees have also demand the termination of PTDC Managing Director Mir Jehan Kethran and the 1,100 appointments he made ‘illegally’ since 2010, he added.
Nearly 110 employees in 10 hotels across G-B are observing the strike. “Unless our demands are met, we will continue our boycott,” warned Akbar.
G-B secretary tourism Akhtar Rizvi said talks are underway with employees to settle the issue. “A bailout package for them is under consideration,” he added.
While tourism in G-B has already suffered a death blow in the wake of the attack on foreign climbers at a base camp of Nanga Parbat, the strike has multiplied tourists’ woes in the region.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2013.
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The staff of PTDC must be looked after- paying their dues and ensuring their sustained livelihood means.The GB government needs to assess the very concept behind building these structures. These facilities were built in a time where there was no capacity of private people to construct such facilities. Currently, in some locations I have visited, there are much better facilities than PTDC hotels/motels.
The government needs to review the rationale for all these facilities and may come up with improved management systems. That may be provide opportunity for the existing experience staff members as well as relevant business people to participate in the management, which must demonstrate quality service, cost effectiveness, employment for local people.
That's odd! the strike started a few days before the Tourists killing...and coincidently in the same area....could there be a link between two?!