J&K Govt Imposes ESMA as Employees Strike Work
With government employees strike continuing, the Jammu and Kashmir government has imposed the Essential Service Maintenance Act (ESMA), reported ANI.
The employees went on strike demanding release of arrears recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission and the enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60.
In a meeting chaired by chief minister Omar Abdullah, the state cabinet on Monday decided to impose ESMA, that means if employees don’t come for work, they will be denied their salaries, report said.
“We unanimously decided that the ESMA, which is already existing here will reiterate it and remind the employees that it is in operation here. No work, no pay; meaning the person who does not come to work would not get paid,” state Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather was quoted as saying.
The minister also pointed out that employees strike is inflicting losses worth 250 million rupees everyday, said report.
“Everyday, we spend 25 crore rupees on employees’ salaries. We will not waste this money anymore. This is not our money, this is public money. We will have to answer in God’s court and in public court. So if a person does not come to work, we are only wasting money, and I believe that it is one of the biggest sins. So we decided that who stays way from his or her duty, the person will not get his or her pay,” Rather was quoted as saying.
Due to strike, all government offices, government schools, civil secretariat and Public Service Undertakings (PSUs) remained closed on Monday. Only emergency services in hospitals continued unhindered.
All directorate level offices in state summer capital Srinagar remained closed, including the directorate of the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD).
