Utility Stores Union to hold nationwide protest on February 17

ISLAMABAD: The Utility Stores Union has announced a nationwide protest on February 17 against the dismissal of daily wage employees.

A major demonstration is scheduled outside the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) headquarters in Islamabad’s Blue Area at 2 pm, along with protests planned in front of press clubs across the country. A sit-in is also likely in the federal capital, with union leaders vowing to continue the protest until their demands are met.

Union representatives have warned that if the dismissal orders are not revoked, further steps will be announced, and the protests may intensify. They have also threatened to close utility stores across the country if their concerns are not addressed.

The announcement comes after the government decided to lay off around 2,500 to 2,600 daily wage employees of the Utility Stores Corporation. According to sources, the USC board of directors had already approved the move, and now orders have been issued to the relevant zones to implement it.

The decision is part of the government’s “rightsizing policy”, which aims to reduce the number of non-permanent employees in government institutions. The layoffs have sparked a strong backlash with workers demanding job security and fair treatment.

It remains to be seen how the government will respond to the protests as tensions rise, while the affected employees are pressing for the decision to be withdrawn.