Punjab teachers union rejects pay hikes, demands benefits restoration

Central President of the Punjab Teachers Union Rana Anwar-ul-Haq, along with Yasin Warraich, Rana Liaquat and other office-bearers, said the government must end what they

LAHORE: The Punjab Teachers Union has rejected the recent increases in salaries and pensions announced by the provincial government, describing them as inadequate in the face of rising inflation and calling for the restoration of cutbacks in employee benefits.

Central President of the Punjab Teachers Union Rana Anwar-ul-Haq, along with Yasin Warraich, Rana Liaquat and other office-bearers, said the government must end what they described as discriminatory economic treatment of public-sector employees.

The union leaders said inflation had reached unprecedented levels, with prices now rising almost daily, making it increasingly difficult for government employees to meet their household expenses. They termed the announced 7 per cent salary increase and 3.5 per cent pension increase insufficient, arguing that the relief did not correspond with the rapidly rising cost of living.

They demanded that Punjab employees receive salary increases at par with federal government employees. They also called for the restoration of cuts affecting leave encashment, pensions and gratuity.

Yasin Warraich demanded a 45 per cent Disparity Reduction Allowance for Punjab government employees, arguing that denying them such an allowance while similar measures were being considered or implemented at the federal level would amount to unfair treatment.

The union representatives also criticised the provincial government for failing to address the growing gap in compensation among public-sector employees. They said Punjab employees should not be deprived of financial benefits available to workers in other parts of the country.

Rana Liaquat said employees affiliated with the All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA) Punjab remained united under the leadership of Chairman Khalid Javed Sangheera and expressed full confidence in the alliance’s leadership.

The teachers’ representatives said they would honour the agreement reached between the two AGEGA groups at Masjid-e-Shuhada on June 16. They further announced that the Punjab Teachers Union would fully implement the protest schedule issued under the umbrella of AGEGA.

The union leaders maintained that employees would continue their struggle for equitable salaries, pensions and service benefits until their demands were addressed.