Even as the stalemate between the Government and its employees continues over the implementation of the sixth pay commission recommendations, statistics reveal the government employees have attended work barely for 13 days in the past nearly one and a half month due to strikes, state holidays and other reasons.
Tussle between 4.5 lakh employees and the state government over the implementation of recommendations of the sixth pay panel began in the middle of last year, since then routine work in government and semi-government offices has suffered due to frequent strikes and protests called by various employee unions.
The statistics of the past one and a half month reveals that effect of ongoing agitation by employees is draining the state exchequer. Since February1 the employees have stayed away from work for as many as 23 days.
In 28 days of February the work in government and semi-government offices remained affected for 20-days and there were only eight working days. The off days include: A day of protests called by JCC demanding implementation of sixth pay commission recommendations in toto, assembly gherao and lockout of offices on JCC’s call on February 25, two days strike call given by JK employees Joint Action Committee-breakaway faction of JCC-on February 16 and 17, four Sundays, two state holidays on Feb 12 and 27, and 10 days of unrest leading to strikes and restrictions imposed by the state.
In the first eight days of current month, employees remained away from offices on three days. It includes one-day strike called by pro-freedom camp on March 1, state holiday on March 5 and a Sunday.
While criticizing the government for not adhering to the agreement made with the employees, the president Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir - apex body of business and trade organization in Kashmir - Shakeel Qalandar told Greater Kashmir that the state was losing around Rs 30 crore to the strikes every day.
“Since there aren’t any salary cuts of the employees for strikes, we are losing about Rs 30 crore a day and that is purely public money. The strikes are badly affecting the economy, our GDP, out per capita income besides inconvenience to the public,” he said.
“But both the government and employees must act responsibly to stabilize the economy of the state. The government must fulfil its promise, and employees need to realize that frequent strikes won’t serve any purpose,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Employees Joint Action Committee (JKEJAC) has threatened to call for an indefinite strike if their demands are not met by March 11.
