KARACHI: The family members of the sacked employees of the Pakistan Steel Mills have gathered in protest outside the house of the company’s CEO in Karachi’s Steel Town.
According to sources, the chief and other employees of the steel mill are stuck inside their houses as protesters have blocked and locked the main gate. The CEO and other members of the top management of the mill were holding a meeting when the protest commenced, sources said.
Following this, a team of police and Rangers reached the site and tried to disperse the protesters but they refused to budge. They said they will not move till they are paid their due salaries.
Earlier, PSM laid off 4,544 of its employees in the wake of an emergency meeting chaired by the PSM chief executive officer (CEO). In June, the federal government had allowed terminating all 9,350 PSM employees.
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the federal cabinet also approved a remuneration package with one month salary. On average, every sacked employee was estimated to receive Rs2.3 million.
According to a PSM spokesperson, the sacked employees belong to Group 2, 3 and 4 and include junior officers, assistant managers, deputy managers, managers, SEDGM and DCO employees.
However, teachers and non-teaching staff of PSM schools and colleges; drivers, firemen, fire tenders operators, public health staff, security guards and watchmen, gardeners, paramedical staff, kitchen staff, office staff and workers of all departments of finance directorate are still on job.
