NEELAM VALLEY (Kashmir English): Communications & Works Department Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) employees held a protest march in Athmuqam Tehsil of Neelam Valley district on Monday, presenting the number of demands.
According to the details, the PWD Workers Union raised red flags and shouted slogans against the government’s pension reforms. Protestors also demanded the government to make the contract with employees and regularise ad hoc employees.
They further demanded the upgradation of current employees and harder area and risk allowances.
Despite rain and snow, the C&W AJK employees participated in the protest in large numbers. The striking employees demanded that the government immediately approve the charter of demands.
The PWD workers union announced to start of a series of strikes in the entire Azad Kashmir state if their demands are not met.
Separately, the PWD Workers Union also staged a massive protest in Kotli today against pension reforms, demanding their reversal and the regularisation of ad-hoc staff. They also demanded that time-scale promotions should be granted without delay.
The ad-hoc workers are the employees employed temporarily to cover openings. They usually frequently get combined pay, and their appointment letter specifies the terms of their employment.
The AJK government employees warned of a pen-down strike if their demands were not met, urging Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, to take notice and an immediate action.
Government employees across various departments took to the streets in protest against the pension reforms. Shouting slogans against the Azad Kashmir government, employees abandoned their offices and marched through the city, demanding the immediate reversal of the reforms.
The protestors stated that they would not rest until their demands were met.
The protest has participation from employees across the district, including a significant presence of women, particularly Lady Health Workers (LHWs) and Lady Health Visitors (LHVs) of AJK. The demonstrators urged PM AJK to take immediate notice of their concerns, listen to them, and address their demands.
