Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) employees have demanded of the government to regularise around 350 contract workers and stop massive retrenchment. "Some 40 contractual employees have been retrenched which is against the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) policy," General Secretary, PNSC People's Workers Alliance, Hikmat Khan told Business Recorder on Saturday.
He said the contractual staff was working in the corporation for last 15 to 20 years, adding that "we want the government to give them a permanent job status. Despite the PNSC administration's directives, the contract employees are not being given a permanent status, he said, adding that "instead, the government has started retrenching them, which is deplorable.
Hikmat Khan said these employees had been performing duties against permanent posts for a long time and receiving all benefits, which a permanent employee was entitled to get. "We demand of the government to turn their status into a permanent one," he added.
He said PNSC is a profit-making national institution and retrenchment of employees is beyond apprehension and unjustified. He added that PPP government had always supported the working class and hence, should stop forced downsizing.
Hikmat alleged that the PNSC administration was planning to refill these posts with favourites after removing the existing daily wages earners. "The retrenchment should be stopped at once and the removed workers must be recalled."
He also sought voting rights for daily wage earners, besides holding of referendum in line with the voter list provided to the NIRC. He said our struggle would continue until our demands are met.