LAHORE: For the last three months, 300 of Punjab’s zonal employees of the Auqaf Department have been deprived of their annual bonuses, even though the employees of the head office including the director have already received their bonuses on time.
In the annual budget of the department, 25 lakh are reserved for zonal workers as bonuses, and 35 lakh rupees for head office workers which has been increased to 70 lakh.
The zonal workers have warned to protest all over Punjab because of the delay in the bonus. The workers requested Punjab CM to take notice of the matter as well.
According to details, the department gives bonuses to the employees every year. In the head office, workers at all posts including the director, and other departments including Audit Branch, Ulema Academy have already received their annual bonus; whereas, in the zonal offices including Sahiwal, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur, no bonuses have been issued to the employees. These employees have said that they contribute more to the budget and also receive the targets for revenue. They said they are the ones who work in the field as well. They further said that the people in the head office are not aware of the strain that they go through to collect the revenue.
They further said that excuses are being offered for the delay in the bonuses. They deprived employees complained that their bonus is an added incentive to work hard which is now missing. They also complained that the high officials receive big bonuses whereas they have to fight for a meager sum.
On the issue, a spokesperson for the Auqaf said that a committee has been formed to look into the issue and the workers will be issued their bonuses after a report.