Unfulfilled promises

Labour Day, being observed today across Pakistan and much of the world, is meant to honour the sacrifices and struggles of workers who laid the foundations of rights that many of us now take for granted. But for millions of Pakistani labourers, May 1 remains a symbolic holiday - one where the words spoken and the banners waved seldom translate into real change.

Despite being the backbone of the country's economy, Pakistan's working class continues to toil in difficult, often dangerous conditions for meagre wages, without access to healthcare, social security or legal protection.

From construction sites and textile mills to agricultural fields and domestic households, countless workers remain trapped in informal employment with little hope of upward mobility. The minimum wage, though revised on paper by successive governments, remains a joke in the face of rising inflation.

Labour inspections are infrequent and ineffective, unionisation is discouraged or actively suppressed, and laws meant to protect workers are poorly enforced. Female labourers face an even harsher reality, often underpaid and overworked in informal sectors with no recourse to justice.

Child labour, despite being outlawed, continues unabated in many parts of the country - a tragic indictment of our collective failure. What workers demand is dignity. They seek fair wages, safer working conditions, legal protections and a seat at the table in decisions that impact their lives. Unfortunately, their dreams remain largely unfulfilled, year after year.

As speeches are made today, let us not forget the millions still waiting for the promises made on countless Labour Days to be kept. A truly developed Pakistan cannot be built on the shoulders of exploited workers. Until we recognise and rectify this, Labour Day will remain less a celebration of progress and more a reminder of broken pledges.