Unions reject Labour Code over ‘anti-worker measures’

Labour representatives strongly denounced the draft 'Sindh Labour Code' in a joint statement, accusing the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Sindh Labour Department of unilateral action without prior consultation. They criticised the proposed legislation for attempting to legalise the contract labour system, which they believe would undermine decades of hard-won worker rights and violate core ILO conventions.

General Secretary of the National Trade Union Federation, Nasir Mansoor, emphasised that the code threatens to strip workers of basic protections and formalises a system of wage slavery, contradicting existing labour laws.

Other leaders, including Naseem Rao of the Pakistan Workers Federation, raised concerns about the code's complexity in defining workers, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by contractors and subcontractors.

The draft also faced scrutiny from Liaquat Ali Shai of the State Bank of Pakistan CBA Union, who criticised its provisions for exempting factory owners from legal responsibilities, potentially weakening worker safeguards.

General Secretary of the People Labour Bureau, Hussain Badshah, condemned the code's proposal to legalise advance payments, likening it to modern-day slavery and a violation of international labour standards.

The delegation of labour representatives met with the Sindh Minister of Labour and Human Resources to express their objections, demanding genuine tripartite consultations and the immediate abolition of the contract labour system. They underscored the need for robust enforcement of labour laws to protect workers from discrimination and harassment in the workplace.