The members' demands include proper implementation of labour laws, upward revision of minimum wages to Rs 3,500 for unskilled workers, revival of the closed mills, application of the Factory Act in the brick kilns, abolishing of contract system to stop the alleged exploitation of the labour community, among others. The dharna was addressed by leaders of all the unions.

Sacked health workers protest
The members of Multi-purpose Health Workers Sacked Union today staged a protest near the MLA hostel to press for the reinstatement of sacked nurses by the Punjab government.

They were supported by the members of the Punjab and UT Employees Action Committee. Sajjan Singh, chairman of the action committee, urged the Punjab government to reinstate the sacked workers by issuing a special ordinance.

The sacked workers have been observing fast-unto-death outside the office of Director, Health Services, Sector 34. At present, Narinder Kaur, the fifth worker to be sacked and on hunger strike, has been replaced by Sarabjit Kaur.

According to Lakhwinder Kaur, general secretary of MHW Union, as many as 500 members have been dismissed by the government.

Ministerial staff demand salary
The members of the Ministerial Staff Association, Director Public Instructions (S), Punjab, are protesting for the release of their salary for the month of June 1999.

The members of all the four directorates of the Education Department, Punjab, have been observing pen-down strike to press for their demands.

The other demands of the employees include issue of orders for current duty charge, release of increments as per the state government's orders, reversion of the sub-office employees to their offices, working of legal cell, implementation of decisions taken at the meeting with the Education Secretary and the ministers in 1997.

President of the association, O. P. Gulhati, today said that if their salary was not released immediately, they would file a writ petition against the Punjab government.