RAWALAKOT (Kashmir English): A protest rally was held today by employees of the Municipal Corporation Rawalakot, including office staff and sanitary workers, in Azad Kashmir’s Rawalakot.
The rally began at Maqbool Butt Chowk and culminated at the Ghazi Millat Press Club, where the employees staged a sit-in, demanding their rights.
The employees demanded a minimum wage of Rs 37,000 and payment of arrears, and land allotment to sanitary workers. The protesters also demanded permanent status for all work-charge employees of the municipality.
Furthermore, the employees sought payment of wages for work done on holidays and the provision of free health facilities.
Sanitary workers also demanded the provision of protective equipment to prevent exposure to deadly diseases.
Addressing the protesters, President of Sanitary Works Arif Yousuf and other speakers highlighted the plight of sanitary workers who clean up filth and toxic materials without protective equipment, making them susceptible to diseases. They criticized the influential class for violating government notifications and court orders with impunity.
“Government and private institutions are violating the government notification of minimum wage and court order, but no action is being taken against them,” the protesters said.
The employees have announced that they will continue their strike and sit-in until their demands are met. If their demands are not accepted, they plan to establish contacts with other unions and expand the scope of the protest to the entire Azad Kashmir.
