LHWs call off sit-in after govt accepts demands

Published October 21, 2020
Hundreds of LHWs staged the protest at the edge of the Red Zone after they were denied entry into the the heavily-guarded area six days ago. — Online/File
Hundreds of LHWs staged the protest at the edge of the Red Zone after they were denied entry into the the heavily-guarded area six days ago. — Online/File

ISLAMABAD: The protesting lady health workers (LHWs) called off their sit-in after successful negotiations with government authorities early on Tuesday.

Hundreds of LHWs staged the protest at the edge of the Red Zone after they were denied entry into the the heavily-guarded area six days ago.

Several rounds of talks were held between the government and the leaders and representatives of the protesters during the protest.

National Programme for Health Employees Federation President Rukhsana Anwar told Dawn that the sit-in was called off after successful talks with the government.

The talks were held late on Monday night at Pak Secretariat between representatives of the LHWs from all provinces, All-Pakistan Clerk Association and a government team, including Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Khan and the secretary health.

During the two-hour-long talks, the government accepted all the demands of the protesters and assured them of its implementation within three months, she said.

The sit-in was called off at 3am and all the protesters left for their native towns, she added.

After the protesters left venue, containers and road blockades were removed. The LHWs had 10 demands, which included restoration of the National Programme of Family Planning in its original condition, equal bonus and pay for employees in all the provinces.

The protesting women said it was unjust that the salary for lady health workers in Sindh was Rs35,000 and in Punjab it was Rs20,000. They demanded the creation of a service structure and service rules for all the employees.

They also demanded that the existing service of the employees may be taken into account for upgradation and promotion.

Moreover, the employees may be considered for promotion and gratuity and the LHWs be provided with security during polio campaigns.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2020

Opinion

Editorial

IHK resolution
Updated 08 Nov, 2024

IHK resolution

If the BJP administration were to listen to Kashmiris, it could pave the way for the resumption of the political process in IHK.
Climate realities
08 Nov, 2024

Climate realities

THE Air Quality Index in Lahore once again shot past the 1,000-level mark on Wednesday morning, registering at an...
Rule by fear
08 Nov, 2024

Rule by fear

THE abduction of an opposition MNA, as claimed by PTI, is yet another grim episode in Pakistan’s ongoing crisis of...
Trump 2.0
Updated 07 Nov, 2024

Trump 2.0

It remains to be seen how his promises to bring ‘peace’ to Middle East reconcile with his blatantly pro-Israel bias.
Fait accompli
07 Nov, 2024

Fait accompli

A SLEW of secretively conceived and hastily enacted legislation has achieved its intended result: the powers of the...
IPP contracts
07 Nov, 2024

IPP contracts

THE government expects the ongoing ‘negotiations’ with power producers aimed at revising the terms of sovereign...