NEELUM: Ad-hoc employees of the Public Works Department (PWD) in Neelum district have gone on strike protesting against the government’s failure to address their demands.
The ad hoc and contract employees, including technical staff, operators, helpers, and drivers, have staged a protest sit-in in front of the District Complex, Athmuqam.
Raising slogans during the protest, the employees demanded that the government immediately approve their charter of demands.
The protestors demand the scale degradation of all PWD employees, permanent status for ad hoc and contract employees, and that appointments and promotions should be made on merit. The protesters also reject the pension reforms.
The charter of demands also includes the restoration of hard area allowance, which is being declared a fundamental right of employees serving in hazardous conditions such as snowstorms, floods, and border firing and shelling.
The protestors further demanded the restoration of the death package, the border area allowance of Neelum Valley workers, and he formation of a seniority list.
The PWD workers made it clear that the protest sit-in will continue until the demands of the employees are accepted.
It should be noted that the strike has halted the restoration work of roads affected by the recent flood waters, causing severe hardship to the people. The protest sit-in has been going on for four days, while no negotiations have been initiated at the government level yet.
