Undeterred by the Jammu and Kashmir government slapping ESMA on them, employees continued their strike across the State on Tuesday crippling work in government departments and Public Sector Undertakings.
The employees are on strike since April 3 demanding among other things immediate release of arrears as recommended by the 6th Pay Commission and enhancement in retirement age from 58 to 60 years.
The government invoked the Essential Service Maintenance Act against the striking employees last night after repeated appeals to them to resume work went unheeded.
The Civil Secretariat here wore a deserted look today as employees continued to cease work.
Only IAS and State administrative service officers along with their personal staff attended offices, official sources said.
Though work in government offices and PSUs was hit, the assembly secretariat functioned as usual, they said.
Reports pouring in from different districts in Jammu Division said the attendance was thin in government offices.
Employees in several State-run educational institutions and hospitals were also on strike.
Announcing the decision to slap ESMA, Finance Minister A. R. Rather last evening said the authorities were left with no option but to invoke this stringent provision.
The government also took a decision to follow “no work, no pay” policy from today.
