Minimum wage woes plague Pindi

Private sector entities flout labour laws amid surge in child labour cases

RAWALPINDI:

Alarming revelations have surfaced regarding private sector organisations in the Rawalpindi division, where employees are being paid below the government-mandated minimum wage, leading to widespread violations of workers' rights and the concerning prevalence of child labour.

The Rawalpindi Labour Department finds itself helpless in addressing this pressing issue due to ineffective laws and various other impediments. Despite the government setting a minimum wage rate of Rs32,000 per month for employees in private sector institutions, many entities are unwilling to comply, leaving workers in a precarious situation amid the escalating inflation.

Statistical data from the labour department exposes the magnitude of the problem.

In Rawalpindi, 767 establishments were found not paying the set minimum wage, with 53 in Chakwal, 56 in Jhelum, and 379 in Attock also flouting the regulations. Out of the 1,504 institutions inspected, legal action was initiated against 1,663 for non-compliance, leading to 763 of them being found guilty. These guilty establishments were fined approximately Rs1 million, while a staggering 2,155 cases are still pending for non-payment of minimum wages.

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Despite the explicit prohibition of child labour in the Rawalpindi division, an unfortunate surge in such cases has resulted in a severe violation of basic human rights. Currently, 128 cases of child labour violations are pending in Rawalpindi, Chakwal, Jhelum, and Attock. Seven children have been rescued from child labour and returned to their homes, while seven FIRs have been filed against business centres involved in child labour.

Further inspections by the labour department, focusing on attendance, overtime payment, and workers' rights in private sector factories, identified 125 cases in Rawalpindi, 37 in Chakwal, 23 in Jhelum, and 83 in Attock, all breaching departmental regulations. Out of a total of 340 cases, including 71 pre-existing ones, 121 cases have been adjudicated, resulting in fines totalling Rs0.2 million.

However, 219 cases are still pending against factories violating labour laws.

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Even in private sector shops, where laws are established to safeguard workers' rights, violations persist. The labour department recorded 2,462 cases in Rawalpindi, 76 in Chakwal, 170 in Jhelum, and 188 in Attock, wherein the law was being flouted. The total number of cases filed against these shops, including 2,135 already pending, now stands at 2,896. A cumulative 5,031 cases were registered against shop owners, leading to the resolution of 2,709 cases with fines amounting to around Rs0.8 million.

Nonetheless, 316 cases remain unresolved and await prosecution.

Rawalpindi Division Labour Department Director Samiullah Khan emphasised that actions have been initiated against those found violating child labour laws and failing to adhere to the minimum wage rate regulations in shops and factories.

The situation underscores the imperative need for comprehensive and stringent measures to protect the rights and well-being of workers in the private sector.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^th, 2024.