PESHAWAR: The Workers Welfare Board’s employees have complained about the denial of salary for four months and announced they would begin boycott of duty on June 2 if the payments were not made.

WWB Employees Association president Shah Zulqarnain told reporters at the Peshawar Press Club that thousands of the board’s employees had been waiting for payment of salary for four months as the government was using delaying tactics to make the payments.

“We have been left with no option but to come onto the streets to claim salary,” he said, adding that the workers would boycott duty and hold demonstrations from June 2 onwards.

Complain denied salary for last four months

He said former director (education) Mujahid Hussain had prepared a list of employees, who didn’t deserve to remain on their various posts for having low qualification and fake degrees and being overage and that list was sent to the National Accountability Bureau and WWB though it was based on incorrect information.

“We are ready to prove that the list was discriminatory and based on personal likes and dislikes of the former director. It should be declared null and void,” he said.

Mr. Shah said the people deserved to continue their jobs and get all incentives.

He said 700 employees had so far not been sacked but the administration was in the process of to terminating their services without the approval of the chairman and secretary of relevant departments.

The association president demanded early regularisation of all contractual and ‘sanction-based’ employees working with the organisation for the last five years.

He said most of the workers’ problems were created by deputationists and therefore, the appointment of officers to the department on deputation would be strongly opposed.

Mr. Shah demanded that the government approve service structure and rules for the WWB and Workers Welfare Fund to ensure end to the injustices to their workers in promotions and postings.

He said labour minister Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli was working for the welfare of the department but certain people were trying to foil her efforts.

He warned if the demands were not met, the workers would agitate.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2016