UT News Service | July 13: Agitating employees of Manipur Secretariat on Monday staged a sit-in-protest at the New Secretariat Complex in Imphal, pressing the state government to implement the agreed demands of the employees.
Normal works in the state secretariat, the backbone of state administration, remained paralysed since July 6 after the employees under the aegis of Manipur Secretariat Services Association (MSSA) joined the cease work strike of the Manipur Government Services’ Federation (MGSF).
The striking MGSF is demanding implementation of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which they signed with the government regarding adoption of pay structures recommended by the Central 7th Pay Commission.
Even as the state government had agreed to adopt the pay structures with effect from April 1, 2020, necessary orders are yet to be issued by the government, the agitating employees alleged.
Showing solidarity to the cease work strike of the MGSF, staff of almost all sections of the state secretariat services took part in the sit-in-protest at the New Secretariat Complex on Monday.
“Fulfil our demands,” and “Clear/pay the 17% DA immediately as committed” read the placards displayed at the protest site.
Taking part in the protest, MSSA general secretary Kurujit Lairikyengbam said that the employees were compelled to resort to cease work strike due to “adamant attitude” of the state government. He said that at this prevailing COVID-19 situation, they don’t want to resort to agitation while demanding that the government should not delay in addressing the demands of the employees. He then insisted that the top executive of the state government should come up with an in-depth solution to employees’ demand showing its skill of running a good government.
The general secretaryMSSA claimed that staff of different sections of the civil secretariat of the state government took part in Monday’s protest.
The MGSF has been on cease work strike starting from July 6 onwards demanding implementation of the 7th Pay Commission recommendation.
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, frontline workers including doctors, nurses and other civil services staff will continue with their duties wearing black badges.
The striking MGSF alleged that the state government has failed to fully implement the terms and conditions which were agreed in the MoU signed on June 8, 2018 between the state government and the federation.
The pay structures recommended by the 7th Pay Commission had already been adopted since January 1, 2016 for the Central government employees.
(NNN)