Employees of the Pakistan Printing Press Corporation staged a symbolic protest outside the PCP head office in Islamabad after going without pay for three months, drawing a large turnout from across the organisation.
Addressing the gathering, CDA Mazdoor Union General Secretary Chaudhry Muhammad Yaseen, All Pakistan Printing Press General Secretary Chaudhry Muhammad Bilal and Pakistan Workers Federation General Secretary Asad Mehmood warned that the printing press is enduring a severe financial crisis worsened by administrative negligence and policies they called anti-worker. They said those failures have extinguished the hearths of many families and pushed staff into hardship.
The union leaders said both serving employees and retired staff have been denied due payments while senior officials continue to receive perks and allowances, a disparity they described as gross injustice. They added that the non-payment of salaries for three months has forced many workers into extreme financial distress and uncertainty.
The unions urged the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister and relevant authorities to take immediate notice and ensure the prompt payment of salaries, arrears and pensions. They demanded transparent action to resolve the crisis and warned that, should the government fail to respond, the scope of industrial action would be expanded across the city.
Protesters chanted slogans calling for the restoration of pay and the protection of workers rights, vowing to continue their movement until the government meets the unions request for immediate and full settlement of outstanding wages and benefits for PCP workers.
