Struggles of HWSC Employees as Delays in Pay Impact Lives

Employees of the Hyderabad Water and Sewerage Corporation in Sindh province, Pakistan, are confronting severe financial difficulties stemming from prolonged delays in the disbursement of salaries, pensions, and retirement benefits. This troubling situation was highlighted in a report by The Express Tribune, which shed light on the death of a retired labor leader, Raja Khan Palari, who had patiently awaited his retirement benefits for four years. Palari, aged 64, dedicated decades of his life to the former Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) before retiring.

The union representatives have brought to attention that Palari, who was struggling with liver disease, could not seek further treatment due to financial constraints caused by the non-release of his gratuity and other retirement dues. The delay in receiving pension-related payments was alleged to have exacerbated his health condition, leading to his demise. The Mehraj Workers Union also raised alarms about numerous current and retired employees who remain bedridden and unable to afford medical care while their salaries and pensions have reportedly been delayed for up to 17 months.

Amidst these claims, union leaders have recounted a prior incident where a contract employee reportedly took his own life due to financial distress originating from unpaid wages. They cautioned that the continuation of non-payment of dues was subjecting workers to mounting economic and emotional pressure. Additional allegations suggest that, while hundreds of employees have not been paid, some senior officials have reportedly received advance salaries ahead of Eid, leading to suspicions of financial mismanagement and inequitable treatment within the organization. The report also indicates that while contract and work-charge employees received just one month's salary before Eid, the regular workers and pensioners are still waiting for their overdue payments, reflecting wider economic challenges in Pakistan, where inflation and financial pressures continue to burden workers and retirees alike.

(With inputs from agencies.)