Tharparker, Pakistan – Over the past three months, healthcare workers including midwives has taken to the streets in a resolute protest outside the Department of Health. These demonstrations have been fueled by three fundamental demands: the conversion of short-term contractual positions into permanent ones, the release of withheld salaries, and the restoration of risk allowances.
However, the management has responded to the peaceful protests with heavy-handed tactics aimed at silencing the voices of the employees. Among these tactics, employees have reported receiving threats of redundancies and other forms of intimidation, further exacerbating the already tense situation.
The plight of the health workers is compounded by the country’s staggering inflation rate, which has reached a staggering 50%. As a result, these dedicated professionals find it increasingly challenging to sustain their daily lives. Many are forced to endure sleepless nights due to hunger, while others struggle to meet their children’s tuition fees, rent, and utility bills.
Shockingly, while health workers face dire circumstances, higher management continues to enjoy numerous privileges, including hefty salaries and bonuses. This stark disparity has left the health workers with no choice but to resort to strike action in an attempt to secure their basic rights and improve their working conditions.
Amidst these struggles, the Pakistan Trade Union Solidarity (PTUS) campaign has lent its support to the health workers’ cause and their demands. Recognizing the universal nature of the challenges faced by healthcare workers worldwide, PTUS calls for strong international solidarity to bolster the efforts of the health workers in Tharparker.
We firmly believe that this is a shared struggle that resonates with healthcare professionals across the globe. It is imperative that we unite to support the health workers of Tharparker and ensure they receive the rights they deserve.
PTUS has pledged to convey the message of solidarity from the health workers’ struggle to the international workers and trade union movement. By doing so, we aim to rally support and secure the rights that health workers in Pakistan have long been denied.
In the face of daunting challenges, the midwives and other health workers in Tharparker continue their fight for justice, their voices echoing through the streets. It is now up to the international community to stand in solidarity with them and ensure that their dedicated service to the community is met with the dignity and fairness they so rightly deserve.
