Sindh Labour Code termed detrimental to worker's' rights

KARACHI:

Experts and union leaders demanded on Friday that employees in the garment and textile industries be given their due rights, including standard salaries and protections, while rejecting the Sindh Labour Code, which they termed an agenda to weaken the agency and rights of workers achieved through years of struggle.

Addressing a conference organized by the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) at a local hotel, IndustriALL Global Union's Textile Garments Shoes and Leather (LGSL) sector co-chair Victor Garrido Sotomayor stated that global framework agreements between IndustriALL and international clothing brands had established fundamental standards for worker protection. "These agreements address freedom of association, collective bargaining rights, workplace safety, anti-discrimination measures, living wages, working hours, and environmental protection measures."

NTUF's Nasir Mansoor highlighted that the Pakistan Accord, established in 2023, was modeled after the Bangladesh Accord, created following the 2013 Rana Plaza factory collapse, which claimed over 1,100 lives. "The Pakistan Accord is a legally binding agreement between global brands and trade unions that mandates workplace safety inspections, worker safety training, and a transparent complaint mechanism in Pakistan's textile industry," he explained. The accord covers fire, building, and electrical safety standards, creating legally enforceable obligations for signatory brands.

"Despite contributing significantly-roughly 60 percent-to the country's total exports and serving as a major source of foreign reserves, the conditions of workers remain deplorable. Most are denied their rights to unionize, decent working conditions, and minimum wages, let alone living wages," he said.

General Secretary of the Home-Based Women Workers Federation Zehra Khan discussed key regulatory frameworks governing supply chains. She pointed out that the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Law, effective since January 2023, represents a significant step toward holding brands accountable. "Companies with over 1,000 employees must now monitor their supply chains for human rights violations and environmental risks, facing substantial penalties-up to a percentage of their annual global turnover-for non-compliance," she said. "We have attempted to use this law to challenge the lawlessness of brands, but it has yet to yield significant results."

The conference underscored severe, ongoing issues in the textile and garment industries. The speakers noted that workers consistently receive below-minimum wages and lack basic employment protections such as contracts, social security, health insurance, and pension benefits.