Negotiations failed between utility stores workers unions, management

LAHORE (92 News) – Utility Stores All Pakistan Workers Unions has stopped working across the country after failing the negotiations with the management. According to the reports, the workers of utility stores have gone on strike day before the start of holy month of Ramazan. They have stopped working at the utility stores in Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Multan following failed negotiations with owners and union. They have demanded to make permanent those employees who are working on the basis of contracts. They also asked the concerned authorities to provide corona safety kits for all the staff, demanding a bonus equal to the basic salary. The Utility Stores Union president has said that the strike will be continued for indefinite time period as managing director of Utility Stores Corporation has not accepted the demands of the workers. Earlier, Ramazan relief package has begun on the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) as subsidy is being given to the consumers on nineteen items through the Utility outlets. Speaking to the journalists on Friday, Minister for Industries Hammad Azhar has said there is no shortage of essential commodities in the country. He said the supply chains of essential items are open to ensure their availability across the country. He said the platform of USC is being used to stabilize the prices of essential items in the open market. He said under the Ramazan package, subsidy is being given to the consumers on nineteen items through the utility outlets. He said the government has given additional 50 billion rupees to the USC to maintain adequate sufficient stocks. He said eight million to ten million households are expected to benefit from Ramazan package this year. Hammad Azhar said the network of the Utility Stores is also being extended. “Currently, 200 mobile utility stores are operational and efforts are afoot to further expand them so that the people of far flung areas could also get essential items at reduced rates,” he added. The minister said that this subsidy on essential commodities will be continued after Ramazan to provide relief to the people in these testing times.