750 employees working under the National Program for Improvement of Water Courses (NPIW-II) in Punjab’s Agriculture Department’s Water Management section, who had been employed on contract for twenty years, have been forcibly terminated by the Punjab government. Despite the government providing a written one-year extension to the National Program for Improvement of Water Courses 2, it was suddenly shut down. Against this oppressive action, the terminated employees staged a protest sit-in in front of Maryam Nawaz Shareef’s (Chief Minister) House Punjab in Lahore.
The employees stated that in these times when earning a livelihood for children has become extremely difficult, where will they go being over-age? They are not even eligible to apply anywhere else. The sit-in demands included immediate reinstatement of all NPIW-2 employees, permanency for employees who worked day and night on water conservation projects, and provision of service structure, promotions, and benefits for all employees according to policy.
The sit-in was ended after the government assured implementation of demands within fifteen days. The employees say if demands are not met within fifteen days, they will again protest in front of the Chief Minister’s House. Students and workers activists participated in this protest sit-in, expressed solidarity, and supported all employee demands while conveying the message that the capitalist state’s anti-worker policy can only be fought through workers’ unity, and only then can all demands be achieved.
The Pakistani state is currently placing all the burden of crisis on workers at the IMF’s behest. While inflation is increasing on a large scale on one side, unemployment is also rising on the other. Workers in other institutions are also facing forced terminations. Recently, Radio and Steel Mill employees have also been terminated. Additionally, other government employees including teachers, clerks, and Lady Health Workers have been protesting against cuts for the past three years.
Against forced terminations, inflation, unemployment, and cuts, all employees and their organisations must establish unity. Water Management sector contract employees will have to fight alongside contract-based, part-timers, and daily wagers from other institutions. Permanent employees must also be brought together with them. This is the only way to obtain rights from the state rulers.
