KARACHI, July 23: Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Rahim has said that according to law, no government servants, including teachers, can form a union or take part in union activities.

In a statement issued on Sunday, he urged people from all walks of life to support the decision of banning teachers’ unions and associations as this would help improve the falling standard of education in the province.

Dr Arbab criticised the reaction to the decision from the HRCP and certain political parties, saying that their response was solely based on ‘opposition for the opposition’. Defending the decision, he said law already prohibited any government servant from indulging in union activities. He explained that government servant could form welfare organisations but such bodies could not give a call for strike.

The chief minister observed that there were a handful of teachers who were spoiling atmosphere at educational institutions in Sindh for achieving their petty interests. He said his government would like to protect the interests of 99 per cent of the masses.

Recounting various steps taken by the government for the welfare of teachers, he pointed out that a teacher of private school was being paid around Rs1,500 per month while a teacher of a government primary schools was getting around Rs7,000 per month. Despite this, he regretted, many teachers were not ready to discharge their duties honestly.—PPI