The Sindh government’s employees boycotted work in almost all departments of the provincial government on Tuesday, as the issue of pension deductions and group insurance lingers on. On the call of Sindh Employees Alliance (SEA), the boycott was observed across the province with students made to return to their homes from government schools, colleges and universities and citizens visiting the government offices returned back. Haji Muhammad Ashraf Khaskheli, Chairman of SEA, said they will keep padlocking the offices and educational institutions till September 27. He added that a sit-in demonstration will be organized outside Bilawal House, Karachi, on October 6.
The government employees also held demonstrations outside their offices, schools and colleges in each district of Sindh, decrying the pension cuts. They deplored that their demands about 30% disparity allowance, insurance and pensions are being irresponsibly ignored.
Khaskheli said SEA will be organizing peaceful protests and boycott of offices for five consecutive days. The alliance’s office bearers belong to Government Schools Teachers Association (GSTA), Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association (SPLA), Government Officers Association Sindh, All Sindh Revenue Employees Association and All Pakistan Clerks Association (APCA), among others.
Sanghar protest
Provincial government employees in Sanghar have launched a protest movement against the Sindh government’s decision to cut pensions and withhold group insurance payments.
Employees of all provincial departments in the district announced that from Wednesday, offices across Sindh, including Sanghar, would be locked, while a protest demonstration will also be staged outside Sanghar Press Club.
At a press conference following a joint meeting, union leaders said the provincial government had deprived workers of their basic rights. They termed the pension cuts and non-payment of group insurance as gross injustice to employees.
Speaking on the occasion, Khan Muhammad Nizamani, Ismail Chang, Sher Muhammad Nizamani, Rustam Nizamani, Mir Hasan Mari, Qurban Khaskheli, Abdul Rahman Khaskheli and others said thousands of employees and retired staff were already facing financial hardship due to the government’s decision.
Citizens expressed concern that the lockout would add to public difficulties but acknowledged that the employees’ demands were justified, urging the government to resolve the matter without delay.
