Cabinet decides to regularize Grade 1-15 contractual employees

ISLAMABAD : The Federal Cabinet on Wednesday decided in principle to regularize the services of all contractual employees from grade 1-15, who have been working continuously for the last two years. The Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani took the decision in line with the commitment of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto as enshrined in the manifesto of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), said Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman.
Briefing the media on the decisions taken by the Cabinet, she said the Finance Minister has been asked to apprise the next cabinet meeting of the financial implications of the decision.
Sherry Rehman said the Prime Minister on this decision observed that today was an historic day for the low-paid contractual employees and for their families.
The Prime Minister said the government would take all steps to achieve targets of the 100 days programme which promises to bring about qualitative change in the life of the people, particularly the poor segments of the society.
Informing the media about other decisions of the Cabinet, the Minister said it approved amendment in the Bill titled Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Act-2008 to regularize those contractual employees of PIA, who have completed the service of nine months or more.
Sherry Rehman said a four-member committee has been set up to review the terms and conditions of contractual employees serving in higher grades with a view to rationalize the exorbitant pays, privileges and perks.
The committee consists of Minister for Finance, Minister for Law and Justice, Minister for Labour and Manpower and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, she added.
Answering a question, she said relief would be provided to the common man, salaried class and low income group in the forthcoming Budget.
She said PPP has a practice of holding debate on every federal budget in its parliamentary committee meeting and it would continue this tradition.
Commenting on planned long march of lawyers community, she said it was their democratic right and the government would welcome peaceful movement of lawyers.
Replying to another question, the Minister said PPP and PML (N) would discuss all vital issues in their joint committee meeting.
She said the government has re-prioritized its PSDP and social service commitments for the coming budget and added that under the present conditions where one can see rising fuel and food prices at the international level, adequate relief would be provided to the common man.
The Minister said relief measures would be taken for salaried and poor sections in the budget, adding that the budget will encourage investors and help alleviate poverty.
Answering another question, she categorically said there was no plan to roll back the local government system.
“Devolution of powers is a settled issue as PPP was in favour of devolution of powers. No decision has been taken to disrupt the LG system,” she added.
She said the decision to shelve Kalabagh Dam was taken to avoid wastage of funds on this project.
The Minister said extra-vigilance has been ensured to check wheat smuggling. The government has achieved the target as far as wheat procurement is concerned, she added.
She said the Cabinet also approved the amendment in the Code of Criminal procedure 1898 proposed to provide relief to the prisoners by way of granting bail after two years in case of offences punishable with death and after one year in case of offences not punishable with death.
This period is further proposed to be reduced to one year and six months respectively in case of women accused, she said, adding that the amendment does not propose such concessions to the hardened and dangerous criminals.
The Cabinet approved a Bill to further amend the Representations of the People Act 1976 that will prevent the frequent adjournments sought in election petition to defeat the objective of the law.
The Minister said the amendment was also approved in the Companies (Appointment of Legal Adviser) Act 1974 meant to assist the companies in the legal matters faced by the companies and to provide financial aid to the young lawyers who face financial problems at the earlier stage of the profession.
The amendment proposed that every company having at least paid up capital of Rs. 2 million shall be liable to appoint legal adviser with at least five years of experience.
Sherry Rehman said the Cabinet also approved the winding up of Equity Participation Fund as the Fund has become dormant and was not serving any useful purpose for the economy of the county.
She said the Stock Exchanges (Corporatization, Demutualization and Integration) Bill, 2008 was approved aimed at breaking the monopolies of the brokers in the stock exchange market. It will enable the private sector to penetrate in the country’s capital market.
The Minister said State Bank of Pakistan was allowed to print the currency notes of Rs. 5 and Rs. 50 denomination and added the printing of 10,000 rupee note was disapproved.
She said the Cabinet set up a committee consisting of Minister for Shipping, a Federal Minister from Balochistan and Minister for Law and Justice to review the Gwadar Port Authority’s Revised Bill for new Corporate Structure of the Port and submit its recommendations to the Cabinet.
She said the Cabinet asked the Ministry of Water and Power to finalize technical and financial issues so that industrial units and tube well are given more hours of electricity by reducing the load-shedding hours.