MANSEHRA: The All Pakistan Wapda Hydro-electric Workers Union on Thursday announced a complete strike against the proposed outsourcing and recruitment of employees through contractors in the Hazara and Peshawar Electric Supply Company on January 26.
“We are going to observe a complete strike on Monday across the Hazara division to demand the government scrap its plan to outsource operations and appoint workers through private contractors in Hazesco and Pesco,” Jam Tanoli, chairman of the All Pakistan Wapda Hydro-electric Workers Union (Hazesco), told reporters here.
He said that workers and staff from Haripur to Kohistan would participate in the strike in line with a joint decision taken by the provincial and Hazara division’s leaders.“Banners inscribed with our demands will also be displayed at prominent places in cities, towns, and Hazesco offices throughout the division,” Tanoli added.
The union chairman said that employees would also take to the streets and hold protest meetings against the proposed outsourcing and recruitment through contractors.“Hazesco is facing a severe shortage of linemen, meter readers, and other staff, which adversely affects operations across the region,” Tanoli said.
He added that due to the shortage of line staff, faults on electricity lines had become frequent, but instead of recruiting human resources directly, the government was providing opportunities to private contractors, which he said compromised merit and transparency.
“We will never tolerate the outsourcing of Hazesco and Pesco at any cost. Instead of adopting such measures, the government should strengthen these companies and fill the posts of linemen, meter readers, and other staff in accordance with laid-down criteria,” he maintained.
Tanoli also urged MNA Malik Mohammad Idrees, chairman of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Power creation, to create more subdivisions and divisions of Hazesco in Kohistan districts for effective services.
