LAHORE: The employees of Speedo Bus Service protested the non-payment of four months’ dues near Kalma chowk on Monday, after which Model Town Assistant Commissioner Zeeshan Ranjha and some police officers intervened and dispersed the protesters.
An employee told Pakistan Today that they were protesting because their contract was breached. “We are dependent on our salaries, we are not begging from anymore but are only demanding our rights,” said Muhammad Ahmad, a protesting worker. “We have provided our services with honestly but have been deceived by officials in matter of salaries.”
An official of In-Box said that they were service contractors for Punjab Masstransit Authority (PMA). “We hire and provide service but PMA is not releasing funds and subsidies to the company due to which the company is unable to pay salaries,” he said.
When asked why the issue was not resolved proactively, the official said that they did not have any assurance from the government, therefore, they were unable to settle it.
Model Town AC said that the contract of Speedo Bus Service employees is given to a company named In-Box, which is responsible for paying the workers. “I have listened to all the problems of the protesters and have assured them of a solution,” he said.
Later, the company officials assured the protesters that they would be paid two months’ salary within two days.
