HYDERABAD, Jan 29: Hundreds of Wapda employees took out a procession from the Gari Khata Labour Hall here on Wednesday to protest against the Presidential Ordinance, 2000, and the Industrial Relations Ordinance (IRO), 2002.

The protest was staged under the banner of the Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Union, Sindh.

Led by the president of the union, Abdul Latif Nizamani, and provincial office-bearers, Mohammad Iqbal Kaimkhani, Malik Sultan, Mir Khan Baloch and others, the protesters after marching on the main roads of the city staged a sit-in outside the Hyderabad Press Club for over an hour, blocking the vehicular traffic.

They carried banners and placards, inscribed with slogans against the two ordinances and the government.

Talking to the protesters, Nizamani said workers were being deprived of their rights.

He said the CBA union had submitted a charter of demands to the authority.

He appealed to the president, the prime minister and other authorities concerned to withdraw the ordinances.

He demanded that deduction from increments should be stopped, contract employees should be confirmed in service, hardship and generation allowance should be restored and fair policies should be formulated.

He also demanded the reinstatement of sacked employees and those who were sent on forced retirement.

He supported the demand of grid station workers who refused to receive their salary for the current month on the ground they were not given TA/DA as per promise of the Wapda chairman.

SANGHAR: Hesco employees took out a protest procession against the Presidential Ordinance, 2000, the Industrial Relations Ordinance, 2002, and transfers of employees to far-flung area.

They said the condition of test for promotion should be removed.

The procession started from the SDO office and terminated at the local press club after marching on various roads.

The zonal chairman of the union, Sher Mohammad Nizamani, general secretary Wali Mohammad and others said no security had been provided to Hesco employees.

They pointed out there was no improvement in line losses even after the induction of army in the organization.

They said the lower staff was punished for mismanagement of higher officials.

They also demanded 33 per cent quota for children of Wapda employees in jobs.

KHAIRPUR: A large number of Hesco employees staged a protest demonstration and a sit-in here on Wednesday.

They were protesting against the Presidential Ordinance, 2000, the Industrial Relations Ordinance, 2002, deduction of Rs200 per month from salary of Hesco employees, transfer of employees to far-flung areas and forcible retirement.

They also demanded regularization of contract employees.

Talking to the protesters, the divisional chairman of the union, Wali Mohammad Laghari, and others demanded of higher authorities concerned to solve their problems.

They warned they would enlarge the scope of their protest if their demands were not accepted.

Employees of other departments also participated in the protest.

SHIKARPUR: Hesco employees also staged a protest demonstration outside the office of the executive engineer, Hesco, against what they called anti-labour policies of Wapda authorities.

Speaking on the occasion, the divisional chairman of the union, Akhtar Ali Memon, and others criticized Wapda authorities for depriving employees of bonus for the last four years.

They rejected the Presidential Ordinance, 2000, and Industrial Relations Ordinance, 2002.

DADU: A large number of Hesco employees staged a demonstration outside the local press club on Wednesday to protest against the arrest of the president of the Wapda Paigham Union and other office-bearers.

They were led by a local union leader, Liaquat Arain.

NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: On the call of the Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Central Labour Union, Hesco employees took out processions in Moro and Naushahro Feroze on Wednesday to press for acceptance of their demands.

President of the union, Mohammad Yaqoob Solangi, took out a procession which, after marching on the National Highway, terminated at the local press club, where the protesters staged a sit-in for one hour.

In Moro, employees, led by Ghulam Rasool Chandio, after taking out a procession staged a demonstration and observed a hunger strike for two hours.