Local Government workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have announced a protest on September 12, 2024, demanding unpaid salaries, job security, and fair treatment. Supported by major unions, they call for immediate action and justice.
Local Government (LG) workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have planned a peaceful protest on September 12, 2024, outside the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly in Peshawar. This decision came from a recent meeting of the Local Government Employees Federation (LGEF).
The workers are protesting against unresolved issues affecting their livelihoods. The protest has strong support from various National Centres, including the Pakistan Workers Federation (PWF), the Public Sector Employees Federation of Pakistan-PSEFP the Unions of Municipal Corporations, and other unions nationwide, showing widespread solidarity among the workers.
A major Demand is the non-payment of salaries to municipal workers, including sanitation staff. Timely payment of wages is a basic right, and delays have put workers and their families in difficult financial situations. The LGEF demands that all outstanding wages be paid immediately.
The lack of pensions and delay in the pension amount for retired employees is another significant problem. Retirees deserve financial security through their pensions after years of service. The protest calls for a release of unpaid pensions for retirees.
The recent termination of Mr Salman Hoti, General Secretary of the LGEF, from his job at TMA Mardan, has sparked more anger. This dismissal is seen as an attack on union leadership and a breach of fair labour practices. The LGEF demands his immediate reinstatement, viewing the termination as an attempt to weaken worker representation.
There is also concern about the delay in implementing a proper service structure for local government employees in the province. The LGEF calls for a comprehensive service structure to provide clarity and security for all workers.
The transfer of Tehsil Municipal Administrations (TMAs) to the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) has caused concern among employees. Uncertainty about their roles and job security under the new administration has left many feeling anxious.
The upcoming protest is a strong demand for justice and respect for local government employees’ rights. The LGEF and its allies call on the government to engage in serious talks and take swift action to address these urgent issues.
The leadership of the Local Government Employees Federation (LGEF), including Shaukat Ali Anjum, Haji Anwer Kamal, Shokat Ali Kiani, Muhammad Salman, Haji Niaz Ali, Riaz Khan, Mehboob Ullah, Shahad Khan, and Qaiser Bacha, announced that all workers from every Tehsil municipal administarions- TMA’s of the province, along with sanitation staff and many pensioners, will join the peaceful protest.