Radio employees to get 50 percent pay raise: Kaira

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira on Monday assured the employees of Radio Pakistan that they would also get the 50 percent pay raise announced in the current budget for public sector, within one week. He was addressing the employees of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation, who were holding a peaceful protest and a sit-in on the Constitution Avenue, near PBC Headquarters here.
Kaira said that the present coalition government was pro-workers and, despite financial constraints, it was taking all possible steps to resolve their problems.
The minister said that he had discussed their issues with the Finance Ministry, which agreed to pay the outstanding dues of the PBC employees within seven days. "I only came to you after I got your demands approved from the Finance Minister, who also asked me to announce that you will get the 50 percent ad-hoc relief", he said.
Kaira also assured that the issue of fixing of minimum wages of Rs 7,000 to all employees and subsequent payment, would be sorted out and the government would ensure early implementation of this decision.
Kaira said," presenting their issues and concerns peacefully is a democratic right of the PBC employees, which they have availed and the PPP government has always struggled to safeguard the interests and rights of the workers". He said that PBC Director General Murtaza Solangi had always been in touch with him and the Information Secretary regarding the issues of the employees.
About other outstanding problems of the PBC employees, he assured that he was ready to discuss all their problems and take necessary steps for their early resolution. He also expressed the confidence that the employees would work for further improving the performance of Radio Pakistan.