PMDC employees await golden handshake scheme implementation

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) approved a golden handshake scheme (GHSS) for its regular employees in April 2023, but its employees have been waiting for the scheme’s implementation for the past one year.

The PMDC decided to adopt the GHSS under the Section 9 of the PMDC Act 2022 and the government’s policy to reduce pension-related expenses. As per the decision of the council, the GHSS was offered to regular employees having less than 55 years of age and a service of 10 years or more as of June 30, 2023.

Under the scheme, employees were entitled to double commutation package and 12-month leave encashment among other perks. The GHSS stated that the employees who would accept the scheme would get double commutation of their pension as a part of the final settlement. However, they would not be paid pensions on a monthly basis.

Moreover, the employees would be entitled to get leave encashment of 12 months and a payment equivalent to one-year salary as the welfare grant. The general provident fund would be based on the self and the PMDC’s contribution, and interest would be calculated after adjustment of the outstanding advance amount.

In the past, the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) constituted in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government had announced a golden handshake for the employees and offered a very nominal amount, due to which it failed as no employee opted for the scheme.

However, the current GHSS under the PMDC Act 2022 is attractive, due to which over 50 employees submitted applications to avail the golden handshake.

According to sources, a majority of the employees want to accept the GHSS due to instability in the organisation due to frequent changes in the PMC or PMDC laws and regulations. They have demanded immediate implementation of the GHSS.

PMDC spokesperson Hina Shaukat told The News that the council had provisions for a golden handshake scheme for its employees. She explained that golden handshake was a financial incentive provided to employees to voluntarily retire or resign from their positions, usually as part of downsizing or restructuring efforts.

She stated that currently, the council was in a transitory period from the PMC to the PMDC, and it would decide to use this policy in the future as per its workforce requirement.