First-time violators of labour laws to be jailed in K-P

The government has decided to amend the labour laws of the province, under which even first-time violators could face up to a year in jail and a fine of Rs2 million fine.

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Labour Department has decided to make amendments to the existing labour laws of the province. A draft for the amendments is expected to be presented in the upcoming meeting of the provincial cabinet. K-P Labour Minister Shaukat Yousafzai told The Express Tribune that it has been observed that the labour laws of the province are not followed strictly. Moreover, he was of the view that there is no mechanism to punish violators under the existing laws.

To address this, he said that the department has prepared a draft for amendments in the laws which has been shared with the provincial law department.

Yousafzai said that after approval from the cabinet, the draft will be tabled in the provincial assembly for formal approval. On the punitive measures included in the amendments, Yousafzai said that first-time violators of the law could be jailed for a year apart from facing a fine of up to Rs2 million.

Those who are found to have violated the law for a second time, the offender could be jailed for two years and will have to pay a fine of Rs5 million. The provincial minister added that labour inspectors have been directed to visit private business centres, institutions and shops to ensure that the labour laws are strictly followed.