Sawan Khaskheli
Hyderabad
In the lieu of International Labour Day, Hari Welfare Association (HWA) lamented that across rural areas of Sindh, workers in agriculture, farms, and brick kilns, who are in millions, hardly receive Rs. 6000 per month against Rs.17,500 minimum wage promised by the Government of Sindh for unskilled workers in 2019.
It grieved that young people without employment, education and skill improvement opportunities are compelled to work around fourteen to sixteen hours at grocery shops, restaurants, and workshops just for Rs. 5000 per month in rural parts of Sindh. HWA stated that poverty, hunger and social and economic injustice push people to survive through the available limited economic opportunities.
It is unfortunate that labour opportunities are less likely available throughout the month, because some of the work is seasonal. Thus, the worker often spends times at roadsides or the agriculture field in search of work. The minimum wage is one of the aspects of their miserable life without social security and protection.
The pandemic like conditions such as Covid19 bring extremely worst consequences in their routine lives, and they are compelled to commit suicide. In the month of April, three workers committed suicide in Khairpur district because they were unemployed due to covid-19 locked down situation.
