Essential Services Act imposed in USC

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has enforced the Essential Service Act on the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) for six months.

The federal cabinet approved a summary of the interior ministry through circulation to enforce the Essential Service Act in the USC for six months with an immediate effect. With its enforcement, the federal government has also banned the activities of trade unions in USC while restricting employees from staging protests, demonstrations, strikes during this period.

The sources said that enforcement of Essential Service Act could extend beyond six months. The government claims that the act has been enacted in the USC to ensure an uninterrupted supply of commodities to consumers from its outlets.

Meanwhile, the National Labour Federation has condemned the enforcement of Essential Service Act by the Utility Stores Corporation. NLF President, Shamsur Rehman Swati, has termed the government’s action a violation of the basic human rights of USC employees.