The Privatisation Commission (PC) moved a summary on Wednesday for approval of Rs 858 million as salaries package to the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) employees, as PSM's employees have been protesting against non-payment of their salaries for last four months. The recommendation has been initiated by the Privatisation Commission based on the decision taken by the Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet in a meeting held on January 29.
The ECC directed PSM management to share a detailed analysis of its salary bill. The Privatisation Commission received the same from PSM management on March 27, after which PC has recommended the release of salaries for PSM employees. An official of PC told Business Recorder that the amount Rs 858 million was outstanding for the payment of four months salaries (December-March). The PSM is unable to pay salaries to its workers as the mill's production is at zero level since June 2015 after Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) disconnected gas supply due to non-payment of bill of Rs 35 billion.
In a statement, it has been said that Muhammad Zubair, Chairman PC endorsed the recommendation by stating that employees' welfare remained a high priority for the government. "We fully understand the difficult situation, which thousands of employees of PSM are currently facing. We are extremely sensitive to the wellbeing of employees of all state owned enterprises listed under the privatisation programme, as we fully understand the financial and social implications of families not receiving salaries for months. We are therefore doing our best to provide the employees maximum protection," said Zubair.