Govt may slash retirement package
The Punjab government has decided to cut the Retirement Preparation Leave (LPR) and gratuity entitlement of its employees. According to sources, the decision will affect two lakh government employees in the state. Sources told The Express Tribune that the Punjab government’s finance department is working on amending the Civil Service Rules to implement the order.
LPR and public service gratuities are set at half of what is available. About a dozen civil servants associations, including Punjab College Professors and Lecturers Association (PPLA), Punjab Civil Secretariat Employee Council, Punjab Teachers’ Union, All Pakistan Registrars Association (APCA) and Pakistan Allied Health Professionals Association have announced the Pakistan Allied Health Professionals Association to curtail the rights. financial of employees.
Union leaders argued that the interim government had no power to change labor laws. A source said the proposal is being worked on in the Punjab Civil Secretariat. Sources in the finance department said other cash benefits of civil servants will also be affected by the decision which is likely to be implemented from this year.
A department official said, “Some of the provisions relating to LPR, gratuities and pensions in the Punjab Civil Servants Act 1974 will be revised. “The official said all the procedures prepared were in accordance with the 1974 Act and the heads of all government departments, commissioners and deputy commissioners were apprised of the matter.
The move, on the other hand, has raised concerns among civil servants. A meeting of all major organizations from various government departments including education, health, civil secretariat, and revenue, was held in the state capital, where their leaders unanimously opposed the move and vowed to mount a protest jointly against it.
“The government is making efforts to implement cuts in allowances and leave pay and this move has disturbed all civil servants in the province,” PPLA President Professor Tariq Kaleem said after the meeting. He said all parties and organizations had decided not to accept the decision and urged the government to withdraw the proposal. He said the move would create the worst possible financial crisis for honeypot government employees who rely on retirement benefits to make ends meet in old age. The academic leadership also questioned the power of the interim government to take such far-reaching decisions.
