LHWs protest against non-payment of salaries

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: A large number of Lady Health Workers (LHWs) staged protest demonstration against non-payment of their four months salaries by the Punjab government at Bagh-e-Jinnah here on Saturday.

The LHWs gathered at Bagh-e-Jinnah but the police cordoned off the park to prevent the protestors to come out on the Mall road. The protestors came out through the park's gates and blocked the Mall road.

During scuffle with police, seven LHWs fainted and were taken to hospital. Two lady health workers were also injured. The LHWs were chanting slogans against the Punjab government. They also refused to perform their duties saying that they were working on difficult assignments like fight against dengue but neither they were paid for the last four months nor their scales were upgraded.

Last week, it may be recalled during a protest, a lady health workers was so desperate and Bushra Arain and two others tried to set themselves on fire, but were stopped by the police. Bushra Arain said that the government was not paying workers and their families were facing starvation. Despite repeated promises, LHWs were not being regularised and now they were not even being paid, she complained. Later, the protesters staged a sit-in that caused traffic jam. To express solidarity with the lady health workers Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz Ahmed reached the spot and assured them of every help in getting their demands accepted.

Around 26,000 staffers of the government's family planning and primary healthcare units have been continuously protesting against the non-payment of their salaries saying that they have not been paid Rs 7,000/- for the last four months.

Later taking serious note of the police baton-charge on the lady health workers, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif directed Home Secretary and the Inspector General of Police Punjab to investigate the matter and report him. He also ordered immediate release of two months salaries of the lady health workers.