JK Govt invokes ESMA against striking employees

Jammu, Feb 14 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir government todayinvoked the Essential Service Maintenance Act (ESMA) againstits Public Health Engineering department employees who are tobegin a strike from tomorrow demanding higher wages.

"The government declared the strike call given by asection of Public Health Engineering (PHE) employees fromFebruary 15, 2011 as illegal and repugnant to the publicinterest. It has decided to invoke sections of ESMA againstthe employees to ensure that people do not suffer on accountof the strike", an official spokesman said here.

A section of PHE employees has decided to go on strikefor 72 hours from February 15 to press for the implementationof their demands.

The government has already fulfilled most of thedemands put forth by the employees associations like releaseof one-day additional salary and payment of wages at the rateof Rs 110 per day, the spokesman said adding all the ChiefEngineers have been directed to make payments on saidparameters.

As for release of 2nd instalment of 0.75 day, it hasbeen agreed in principle by the Chief Minister. The third andfinal instalment of 0.75 day shall also be sanctioned/releasedin due course of time, he said. (More) PTI AB