Protesting against raise in government fee, premium rate: Poepa to go on strike from today

Pakistan Overseas Employment Promoters Association (Poepa) has announced to go on strike from today (Saturday) as the Ministry of Labour and Manpower has failed to resolve the issue of increase in government fee and rate of premium, especially for emigrants.
In its letter sent to Ministry of Labour and Manpower on December 24, Poepa lodged a protest with the ministry over unjustified increase in various government fees and rate of premium for emigrants. "We have decided not to abide by the decision of raise in government fees on different accounts and premium rate and will stop all activities from January 1, 2011," Poepa warned in the letter.
The Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench in its decision on November 29, 2010 had directed the ministry to take Poepa on board in case of any raise in fee charged from overseas employment promoters.
"We wish to invite your attention to Poepa letter No POEPA/02/2010; dated December 11, 2010.wherein it was brought to your notice to seek remedy against the unjustified increase in various government fees," the letter says adding having received no response, Poepa had sought relief from the High Court (Rawalpindi Bench) wherein the court issued directives "to address the grievances of the petitioner taking sympathetic view."
"We regret to bring to your kind notice that till to date no response has been received despite our co-operation with the government authorities in all respects and as a gesture of cooperation/consideration we deserve early consideration of our request/proposal," the letter further said. Poepa had lodged a protest over increase in premium rate for the intending emigrants from Rs 650 to Rs 2,000.
"Already a huge balance in the name of insurance left over is lying with the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment which it is utilising for building Emigration Towers for the Bureau," Poepa in its letter said warning that it will not allow building more towers by squeezing the blood of the poor people.