Jammu: Undeterred by the Jammu and Kashmir
government slapping ESMA on them, employees continued their
strike across the state on Tuesday crippling work in government
departments and public sector undertakings.
The employees are on strike since April 3 demanding
among other things immediate release of arrears as recommended
by the 6th Pay Commission and enhancement in retirement age
from 58 to 60 years.
The government invoked the Essential Service Maintenance
Act against the striking employees last night after repeated
appeals to them to resume work went unheeded.
The Civil Secretariat here wore a deserted look today as
employees continued to cease work.
Only IAS and state administrative service officers along
with their personal staff attended offices, official sources
said.
Though work in government offices and PSUs was hit, the
the Assembly Secretariat functioned as usual, they said.
Reports pouring in from different districts in Jammu
division said the attendance was thin in government offices.
Employees in several state-run educational institutions
and hospitals were also on strike.
Announcing the decision to slap ESMA, state Finance Minister A
R Rather last evening said the authorities were left with no
option but to invoke this stringent provision.
The government also took a decision to follow "no work,
no pay" policy from today.
PTI
