SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir government will take stern action against employees who will remain absent from duty in the wake of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), heading employees’ deciding to resume its agitation from today.
The employees will take out a peaceful torch march from S K park to the Chief minister’s residence tomorrow.
On October 3, they will march towards the Legislative Assembly.
As per the announcement, a complete lock out will be ensured in all government and semi government offices and public sector undertakings October 4 and 5.
Alleging that the government has failed to implement the agreement reached with them, the employees are demanding among other things increase in the retirement age from 58 year to 60 years, regularisation of daily wagers and contractuals.
The state had recently issued a warning to employees to desist from going on frequent strikes.
Apart from enforcement of the principles of ‘No work no wages’, appropriate action may be taken against those participating in the strikes.
However, it has no impact on JCC who announced to go ahead with their programme of agitation. Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey has expressed his dismay over the employee’s union leaders decision.
He said all strikes by the employees have been held illegal by the Supreme Court and High Courts and the same has already been brought to the notice of the employees in addition to the provisions of the essential services (Maintenance) Ordinance, 2001 and SRO-1 of 2000.
He said circulars have already been issued reiterating that the strikes by the employees union are illegal and will entail strict action including imposing ‘no work no pay’ rule, besides other punitive measures.
Mr Khanday has directed the Administrative Secretaries to ensure that manual attendance in addition to the bio-metric system of attendance is performed in the Civil Secretariat and to personally monitor the attendance of the employees and submit details to the General Administrative Department on daily basis.
