Hundreds of permanent employees expelled from Pakistan International Airlines

Another wave of expulsions of employees from government institutions has been set in motion vigorously by the Musharraf regime. The government, following the dictates of the World Bank and the IMF, are transforming permanent employees into contract employees so that they will not be able to get a pension, medical allowance, graduatee and other benefits. Privatisation is the continuation of the brutal and anti-labour policies of this regime.

A statement issued by Agha Jaffar, the president of People's Unity of PIA Employees and Information Secretary Sheikh Majeed in which they explained the situation. They said that six important departments, flight kitchen, traffic, cargo, TGS, cabin services and motor transport have already been outsourced in the name of a joint venture which has jeopardized the future of thousands of workers.

In the Annual Report (ACR) it was announced that 300 contract workers and 50 permanent employees working for the last 12 years have been expelled. A few months ago more than 1400 permanent employees were forcefully retired on the basis of reaching the age of 57. These belonged to pay groups 1 to 5. Now lists have been prepared to forcefully retire more than 1200 employees from pay groups 6 and above.

After that more than 2500 employees of 55 years of age will also be retired. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) authorities have given the indication that they will further change their policy and will reduce the employees per plane, which will enable them to expel 5000 employees.

All these steps are aimed at helping the government in privatising PIA. The same government is vigorously following the policies of downsizing and restructuring in other departments including KESC, PTCL, KP, Sui southern gas, Banks and other financial institutions.

Comrade Manzoor Ahmed, Member of the National Assembly and President of the PTUDC, has condemned these brutal acts of the government and has said that we will fight against privatisation in all the institutions and industries and will unite the workers on one platform against these anti-labour measures.