Islamabad: The All Pakistan Workers Alliance has called for a countrywide protest on Monday, February 17, amidst the dismissal of approximately 2500 to 2600 daily wage employees of the Utility Store Corporation(USC). The government has decided to lay off daily wage employees from utility stores across the country as a part of its ‘rightsizing policy. As per the sources, this policy intends to reduce the number of non-permanent employees in government departments.
The directives for terminating the workers have already been issued by the respective zonal offices, signaling the beginning of the downsizing process. The Utility Store employees in Islamabad zone will follow the demonstration in front of the USC head office in Blue Area Islamabad at 2 pm while the workers from other cities and constituencies will record their protest by gathering in front of the press clubs of their respective regions, as stated by Arif Shah who is the Central Secretary General of the All Pakistan Workers Alliance.
Mr Shah further warned that if the decision to dismiss daily wage employees is not reversed, the Alliance will announce the next course of action. The owners and workers also hinted at closing Utility Stores across the country and staging sit-ins in case of non-reversal of the decision.
It is yet to be determined whether the government will exhibit flexibility towards its decision by addressing the concerns since a large number of daily wage workers will be affected or devise a strategy to deal with the warning of nationwide protests by the affectees.
