{"id":6421,"date":"2018-03-30T09:24:19","date_gmt":"2018-03-30T09:24:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hrcp-web.org\/hrcpweb\/?p=6421"},"modified":"2021-12-15T09:25:30","modified_gmt":"2021-12-15T09:25:30","slug":"hrcp-supports-punjabs-lady-health-workers-on-strike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hrcp-web.org\/hrcpweb\/hrcp-supports-punjabs-lady-health-workers-on-strike\/","title":{"rendered":"HRCP supports Punjab\u2019s lady health workers on strike"},"content":{"rendered":"

Press release<\/u><\/p>\n

HRCP supports <\/strong>Punjab<\/strong>\u2018s lady health workers on strike<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lahore<\/strong>, <\/strong>30 March 2018<\/strong>:<\/strong> Six years on, the Punjab government has failed to implement the notification it issued in 2012, regularizing the services of 50,000 lady health workers (LHWs) in the province. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) urges the Punjab government to rectify this immediately. LHWs are critical to Pakistan\u2019s public health delivery system\u2014many of them working in remote and often difficult conditions to provide basic healthcare, family planning and vaccination services in underserved areas.<\/p>\n

Hundreds of LHWs have collected at Charing Cross in Lahore to demand better working conditions. Given that the right to work involves \u2018just and favorable conditions of work\u2019 and \u2018protection against unemployment\u2019, it is imperative that the Punjab government implement the 2012 notification, establish a regular service structure and settle all salary arrears due to LHWs in the province without penalizing them for having been on strike. The women HRCP has spoken to, allege they have not been paid for five months and been threatened with termination for having demanded their salary arrears. Many say they are expected to work around the clock without leave and that, unless they meet certain service delivery targets, they are dismissed or their salaries cut. They also allege that health department officials have sent them \u2018false\u2019 letters assuring them their demands will be met\u2014but with no further action following these promises.<\/p>\n

While creating a competitive work environment is important, this should not be at the cost of a decent work environment, which, under the International Labour Organization\u2019s definition, includes a \u2018fair income\u2019, \u2018security in the workplace\u2019 and \u2018better prospects for personal development\u2019. LHWs are poorly paid, those in Punjab earning about Rs15,000, according to the women on strike, and there are few provisions for their security when working in remote areas. Many LHWs are also sorely disillusioned with the role of the World Health Organization, which, they feel, has encouraged the government to focus exclusively on meeting service delivery targets without accounting for LHWs\u2019 poor working conditions and lack of training. The Punjab government must address the LHWs\u2019 grievances as fairly and as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n

Dr. Mehdi Hasan<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chairperson<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>