Thursday March 17, 2022

The World Federation of Trade Unions [WFTU] Trade Union International Public Services and Allied [TUI PS & A] representing more than 30 million members in the public service, take this opportunity to pledge its unwavering solidarity and support to thousands of Public Service Workers represented by Pakistan Federation of United Trade Unions (APFUTU) in their demand for better wages.

Workers are protesting against the refusal by government to honour its promise regarding the increase of public service workers salaries. Indeed, the public service workers like other workers have rights to decent salaries.

We condemn in the strongest terms the harassment of workers by government during their peaceful protest. Workers cannot be denied their universal rights to among others, rights to strike and collective bargaining. We further condemn the neo-liberal policies of the Pakistan government which are outdated and belongs to the dust bin. 

The public service workers have been in the frontline fighting this devastating pandemic – COVID-19 for the past two years in most instances working without adequate PPEs.

We fully support the struggles waged by workers in Pakistan’s public service. In this regard, the TUI-PS&A is therefore demanding that the government of Pakistan to listen and respond to demands of workers by honouring the agreements reached with workers during the negotiations.

We call upon all our members around the World, Asia Pacific Region in particular to pledge solidarity with public service workers in Pakistan to ensure that the government responds positively to their demands.

END

Issued by Zola Saphetha: General Secretary (WFTU-TUI-PS&A)

Media Enquiries:

 Clever Banganayi (Information & Publicity) 0721426625 clever@nehawu.org.za