Neelum power project workers protest against inaction over their demands

About 200 workers of the 969-megawatt Neelum Jhelum Hydroelectric Project (NJHP) held a strike on Monday to protest against alleged inaction over their 13-point agenda.

The workers of the power project had submitted an agenda for a meeting on 'unsettled issues' to the chief executive officer (CEO) of Neelum Jhelum Hydroelectric Project (NJHP) around one and a half months ago.

They had also requested to fix a date and time for the meeting.

The workers gathered outside the office of chief executive officer (CEO) to stage a strike as no action was taken by the management.

The workers chanted slogans in favour of their demands and against the alleged injustice meted out to them during their protets.

The protesting workers alleged that human resource (HR) policy had not been issued for the past four years.

The workers said that they were deprived of many rights, including regularisation of their jobs.

"Of late, we have heard that the WAPDA is formulating an HR policy which does not envisage pension and other privileges of employees and this being unacceptable to us will be opposed, resisted and challenged fiercely at every forum," the Dawn quoted Sheikh Altaf, president of the local chapter of Wapda Labour Union, as saying.

He added that they demanded to put all the employees, who were appointed for the project, should be accommodated in operation and maintenance (O&M) of the project.

The Neelum Jhelum Hydroelectric Project management invited representatives of striking workers for talks.

The management reportedly approved some of their demands and sought time for consideration on the remaining demands after which the workers called off their strike.

"If the points agreed in Monday's meeting do not figure in the minutes of the meeting on Tuesday we will resume the strike," said Altaf.