Workers of National Programme Water Management on Monday organised a rally under the leadership of central vice-president Masood Alam Niazi to press the authorities for regularisation of services of 2,800 contract employees. They shouted slogans against the Punjab government for neglecting them. They vowed to continue their strike till the acceptance of their demands.
Addressing the demo Yasser Arafat District President of Contract Employees Association, Shahid Lakhvera and Saeed Azhar Gardezi said that government was paying them Rs 5500 per month instead of minimum wages of Rs 7000 for unskilled workers.
They said that construction material worth Rs 20 million are wasting in Multan alone due to strike of the workers but government was reluctant to lend ear to their hue and cry. They said that they were drawing Rs 5,500 per month since June 2007. Punjab Chief Minister was introducing Sasti Roti and Muhammadi Dastar Khwan but he is not ready to meet the demand of 2,800 workers of National Programme Water Management.