Around 1,000 health workers are demonstrating in front of Punjab Assembly building at The Mall, blocking the main artery for all type of traffic. Their protest started on Monday morning when they gathered in provincial capital from different cities of Punjab.
The protesting women are demanding up-gradation of pay scale, revival of service structure and uplifting ban on fresh recruitments.
“We demand basic pay scale 14 for lady health supervisor, 7 for lady health workers and 6 for drivers,” said a lady worker.
"Our job is very tough but we are not given the deserved compensation. We were promised all benefits in 2012 but we are still waiting for the compensation."
They complained that directors of this program are receiving Rs.06m salary per month and do nothing but the government is not willing to raise salary and provide other small benefit to women workers who perform duties from dawn to dusk.
“We will not leave until the issuance of notification in favour of our demands,” vowed the protesting workers when a government delegation approached them yesterday.
The former Punjab government had agreed to their demands but later it delayed the implementation as it required additional funds worth billions which the already cash-strapped province is unable to afford.
The Usman Buzdar government has so far avoided making any commitment towards addressing all demands. The government has approached the protesters on Monday for negotiations but they said their demands were clear and they were not ready to compromise.
The sit-in protest caused traffic mess in the area and long queues of the vehicles could be seen on adjacent roads.