USC employees lock HQ in Islamabad over unpaid salaries

ISLAMABAD: Employees of the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) on Thursday staged a strong protest in the federal capital, locking the corporation’s headquarters to press for payment of long-pending salaries and dues.

The federal government had announced the closure of USC operations on July 31, allocating Rs30 billion for a separation scheme. However, workers say the Finance Ministry has yet to release the funds, leaving thousands of families in financial distress.

According to protesting employees, more than 11,000 staff members have not received their dues for several months. Salaries for April, July and August remain unpaid.

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On September 1, over 7,000 employees were abruptly dismissed without compensation in what they claim was an attempt to avoid paying September wages. Earlier, 4,000 workers had already been laid off.

Chanting slogans, the protesters declared that no work would resume at the USC headquarters until their salaries and separation payments were cleared. They also warned of launching a nationwide sit-in in Islamabad if their demands were ignored.

The employees have appealed directly to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to intervene and ensure immediate disbursement of salaries and dues. They further warned that if relief is not provided, they may pursue legal action and broaden their protest, which could disrupt operations in other government departments as well.