KARACHI: "The Sindh, and at times the Balochistan governments, regularly and unwisely announce unscheduled holidays mostly at the 11th hour. This attitude of both governments is a blatant manifestation of anti-industry, anti-economic progress, and anti-employment. It reflects a total disregard of the way in which industries plan their working dynamics. It also demonstrates the callousness with which the administration of both governments are carrying on their governance". This was stated by Ismail Suttar, President, and Zaki Ahmed Khan, Vice President Employers Federation of Pakistan.

Suttar and Zaki questioned the purpose behind these decisions especially when three full days were notified as holidays. An extra day is of no value to anyone but the already lethargic bureaucracy and the Sindh and Balochistan Assembly members. It goes without saying that most of the bureaucracy have not been attending their offices since the pandemic crisis began and it seems that they continue to prevail upon the decision makers to extend their holidays.

EFP was astonished to receive a late evening notification on Eid day and it was ironic that the Sindh Labor Department was itself unaware of this notification.

The Sindh Labor Department will, of course, do the usual by issuing a retrospective holiday notification under the Factory Act on Tuesday or Wednesday.

The EFP office bearers added that it is going to be difficult for industries to inform their workers and a chaos would ensue in the industrial estates.

Moreover, if plants do operate on Monday, the employers would be paying double or triple the daily rate in case of overtime and additional leave in lieu of overtime.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020