HYDERABAD, Dec 6: A large number of industrial workers held a protest demonstration against the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution and the Employees Old-age Benefit Institute outside the press club here on Monday.

The protest was held under the banner of the National Labour Federation. The protesting workers, led by Sindh NLF president Rana Mehmood Ali Khan and Hyderabad zone general-secretary Shakeel Ahmad Shaikh, raised slogans against the two institutions.

They carried banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding inclusion of all industrial workers, including those working in the bangle industry, in social security and EOBI schemes, removal of the social security commissioner, sacking of the senior medical officer of polyclinic, supply of standard medicines to workers and assurance of doctors' attendance in social security polyclinics.

They further demanded that officials should be stopped from misusing social security ambulances. They said the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry had no right to interfere in EOBI affairs.

They said true representatives of workers should be included in the provincial governing body of the social security. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Khan accused social security officials of corruption.

He alleged that the social security commissioner had converted his office into a political office and doctors were using ambulances for their private work. He said substandard medicines were being supplied to workers.

He said the NLF was preparing a comprehensive report of corrupt practices and misuse of powers by the officers, which would be submitted to the National Accountability Bureau.

Mr Shaikh alleged that the regional office of the EOBI was in control of brokers and retired employees were not being paid pensions according to law. The workers pledged to continue the struggle till their demands were accepted.

ADMISSION TEST: University of Sindh on Sunday conducted pre-entry test for admission to M.Phil programme in various disciplines. About 270 candidates appeared in the test for admission to 22 institutes and departments.

The test was conducted by the university and monitored by deans of departments. The university authorities adopted strict security and administrative measures at its campus in Jamshoro.