IT is really unfortunate that big claims are made about welfare of labourers but on the ground practically nothing is done and the result is that with each passing year, their woes are increasing. According to the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER), an estimated 80% of unskilled workers are not receiving the minimum wage of Rs25, 000 per month, which was announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his first address at the National Assembly after being elected leader of the house last year.
It is not only the private sector but several public sector departments where this minimum wage has yet not been implemented. This really speaks volume of the poor state of affairs and apathy to the plight of workers. An unprecedented high inflation has exacerbated the people’s sufferings. In the month of March, inflation reached thirty five point four percent significantly impacting purchasing power. Non implementation of minimum wage amounts to rubbing more salt on the wounds of workers. Time and again this matter has been raised at the floor of parliament but it appears all calls fall on deaf ears. A few years back, the Federal Ombudsman used to hear such matters of employees but now it has amended certain rules under which the employees are not allowed to file complaints against their employer. We will appeal to the Ombudsman Office to review their rules and at least hear such matters where the very rights of poor workers are being trampled upon. Then, responsibility rests with the federal and provincial governments to ensure implementation of their decisions. As the government will be presenting the budget for the next fiscal year in a matter of a month or so, we will suggest that the minimum wage should also be enhanced keeping in mind the current inflationary trends so that the poor workers could make both ends meet. As the salaried class has been affected worse by the current situation, they also deserve a reasonable increase including in the allowances such as that of conveyance which was last raised when the PPP was in power.
