Following the enforcement of the Pakistan Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1952 (LIII of 1952) again in Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited (PIACL) for six months, the federal government is said to initiate working on downsizing plan to reduce airline's overheads; it was learnt. Sources said that federal government has enforced the Pakistan Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1952 (LIII of 1952) to all classes of employment in the PIACL for a period of six months.
Sources further said that the provisions of the Act shall have effect, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Industrial Relations Act2012, or any other law or rules framed thereunder. The application of this Act imposes a number of obligations on the employees with regard to performance of their duties, breach of which is not only misconduct under Corporation's rules but also an offence under this Act, sources maintained.
The offences have been enumerated under Section 5 and of the Pakistan Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1952. According to said Act, "Any person engaged in any employment or class of employment to which this Act applies is guilty of an offence who; disobeys any lawful order given in the course of such employment, or attempts to persuade any person to disobey any such order, or ii- without reasonable excuse abandons such employment or absents himself from work or refuses to work or to continue to work, whether or not acting in combination with or under a common understanding of any other person engaged in such employment, or iii- departs from any area specified in an order under sub-section (l) of Section 4 without the consent of the authority making that order.
Whoever instigates or incites any person engaged in any employment or class of employment to which this Act applies, to commit an offence under this Act, or knowingly expends or supplies any money or otherwise acts in furtherance of the commission of such an offence, shall be deemed to have committed that offence".
Any person found guilty of an offence under this Act shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to one year and shall also be liable to fine. Employees are advised to refrain from indulging in any activity which may tantamount to an offence under this said Act, failing which they may become liable to prosecution in a Court of Law, besides disciplinary action under the Corporation's rules, the Act stated.
Meanwhile, sources said that federal government had firstly imposed said Act when Joint Action Committee PIA Employees (JACPIAE) had given a strike call early this year against PIACL privatization. Now the same has again been implemented with the aim to initiate working on downsizing plan to reduce operational expenditures, they added.
Replying to a question, sources said that although surplus staff in PIACL was one of the major hurdles for the revival of the national flag carrier, the management should execute its downsizing plan in a proper manner. When contacted, PIA spokesman said the management was looking to reduce its human resources but no concrete proposal in this regard had been made so far.