SRINAGAR : Declaring strike by government employees as unjustified when all their demands, except the issue of increase in the retirement age, have been met, Minister for Finance Abdul Rahim Rather today said the government still do not want any confrontation with them (employees).
However, he warned that law will take its own course when members from opposition parties demanded that cases against the striking employees under ESMA should be withdrawn and those arrested for the past few days released.
Mr Rather informed the House that employees had planned to Gherao the Legislative Assembly which will not be allowed.
Making a statement in the Legislative Assembly today after members, cutting across party lines expressed concern over the employees strike, Mr Rather said a Sub Committee of six cabinet ministers held meetings with the representatives of employees on September 17 and later on September 27
Mr Rather said government has already implemented all the demands of employees, except increasing the retirement age from present 58 years to 60 years, decision on which will be taken after considering the concerns and opinions expressed by all stake holders.
“Let this House pass a resolution over retirement age issue, we will then take a decision, the minister announced.
About need-based workers, we have written to departments about them (need base workers). We want to know who appointed them, whether there was a clear vacancy and reporter they were drawing salary from treasuries, Mr Rather said none of the department have replied so far. If any department has replied that too was incomplete, he said adding how can government take a decision about them.
Let these striking employees take the matter in their departments and get the cases of daily wagers cleared, constnacuals and need based workers so that we are able to take a final decision.
However, he made it clear that any daily wager or contractual who had completed seven years in service will be regularised.
“We regularised 56,000 daily wagers who had completed seven years of service,” he informed the House and said cases of 2000 were not complete. We are open to consider their cases also, he announced.
He said the employees added new demand of the wages of Junior and Senior clerks be increased more than what is recommended in the sixth pay commission.
How can we go beyond sixth pay commission recommendations, he said adding later thaat other employees will demand more than what is being paid in central government offices.
About the demand of withdrawal of cases against striking employees and their release, the minister said we also do not want any confrontation with employees.
But, he said, how can we remain silent spectators when the employees go on strike without any reason and announced to gherao the Assembly.
We have announced ‘ No work no Pay’, he said and announced that law will take its own course.
(agencies)
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