Scores of daily wage employees removed from job

Rawalpindi

The employees, who were deputed on contract and daily-wage basis by the Punjab government in different local government departments of the province for eliminating dengue fever last year (2015), have been removed from their jobs by the health department without any justification and without clearance of their dues.

Scores of sacked employees, who toiled day and night and fired from their jobs, told this correspondent that they were appointed in June 2015 on contract and daily-wage basis. As per directions of the high-ups and their superiors, they carried out relentless and tiresome work for eliminating dengue disease with full sincerity and satisfaction of their heads. Despite this fact, they were not appreciated and rewarded for this cause. Instead, during their service period the employees were made to suffer badly as their monthly salaries were not paid on time at the pretext that the Punjab government did not release funds of the project, they alleged.

Similarly, they alleged that prior to their termination, the concerned officials paid their 50 per cent emoluments and after four months fired them from their jobs without clearing their remaining dues. As a result of this step, the sacked employees are highly perturbed and facing financial problems.

It is pertinent to mention here that the then Commissioner, Rawalpindi, Zahid Saeed while addressing the newsmen had assured in September that the fleet working on dengue project in different local government would not be removed from their jobs and their services would continue for tackling the dilemma of dengue in coming years. However, this assurance just remained a hollow statement because the officials in the health department without showing any sympathy have rendered large number of employees jobless.

The affected employees have appealed to the Punjab chief minister for taking notice of the termination of their services and non-payment of their dues. They demanded of the chief minister to direct the officials of the health department to reinstate their services and pay their dues at the earliest.

On the other hand, the high officials in the health department like District Officer, Dr. Javed, while rejecting the allegation, said that the decision of sacking the employees working on daily-wage was taken during the tenure of his predecessor, Dr. Rafiq, and this was enforced accordingly. He said the services of daily wages are on temporary basis and with the expiry of their working period, they are relieved from their jobs.

When asked about allegations of non-payment of dues to the sacked employees, Dr. Javed did not agree to it. He said that the allegations are not true. The emoluments of all employees who are removed from their services have been paid. No outstanding dues of the relieved employees remains unpaid.