Urge consultation with their bodies before finalising labour policy. PHOTO: APP
KARACHI: Leading industrial associations of Sindh have said that the provincial government will damage the interests of industries if it increases minimum wage to Rs25,000 per month.
They said the government needed to reduce the cost of production instead of increasing it by taking such measures, according to a press release.
Chairpersons and office-bearers of seven industrial town associations of Karachi held a joint meeting to discuss draft of the labour policy (a framework of industrial relations) and recommendations of the first Sindh Tripartite Labour Conference held in December 2017.
They said wages in Pakistan were already high compared to competing regional countries.
In 2014, the minimum wage for an unskilled worker was Rs11,000 per month, which has now been increased to Rs15,000. This should not have been more than Rs12,000 as per the Consumer Price Index and the rupee exchange rate in relation with the dollar, they said.
Karachi holds 80% share in Sindh’s total industry and also generates approximately 90% of revenues for the province. Hence, taking on board and consultation with all the industrial stakeholders in Karachi was inevitable, they emphasised.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 6th, 2018.
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