Labour inspections with zero convictions

Officials cite enforcement gaps, weak prosecution, legal loopholes

FAISALABAD:

The labour department has carried out 27,005 inspections across textile units, factories and workshops over the past one and a half years to check violations of child labour laws, minimum wage regulations and occupational health and safety rules, officials said.

According to the department, 527 cases were registered against violators while 12,107 challans were forwarded to courts, though no convictions have been recorded so far.

Director Labour (East) Rai Yasin Kharal said inspections were conducted on complaints from workers and labour unions as well as on departmental initiative.

He said 20,041 inspections focused on occupational safety and health compliance in power looms, textile sizing units, spinning mills and other industrial and commercial establishments.

He added that 3,669 factories were checked for child labour violations, while 3,295 units were raided during enforcement drives.

In earlier stages, warning notices were issued to factory owners with instructions to comply with labour laws. However, repeated violations led to intensified inspections, he said.

Officials said 156 cases were registered under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, while 371 cases were filed under the Child Labour Act.

Despite this, officials noted that most challans resulted in minimal penalties and no convictions.

Director Labour (West) Syed Ghazanfar Ali Shah said the department is enforcing fire safety and building by-laws under a zero-tolerance policy, particularly in industrial units. He acknowledged partial compliance but said violations persist due to weak enforcement mechanisms.

He also criticised gaps in the legal framework, saying accused employers often avoid accountability by exploiting procedural loopholes.

Labour National Movement Chairman Baba Latif Ansari said weak prosecution and ineffective challan processing are key reasons for acquittals.

He claimed that over the past two decades, no major industrial owner has been punished and enforcement agencies have failed to make arrests in such cases.

He questioned why labour-related cases are sent to magistrate courts instead of specialised labour courts, arguing that this results in weak penalties and repeated violations.

He alleged that many factory workers in the Sidharth Industrial Estate are paid Rs20,000 to Rs25,000 for 12-hour shifts, despite the legal minimum wage being significantly higher.

Human rights lawyer Malik Aftab Shahzad Jora Advocate said procedural flaws in challans are frequently used as grounds for acquittal in lower courts.

He alleged that in some cases, judicial leniency results in nominal fines or dismissal of penalties, enabling continued violations.

He urged the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court to take notice of what he described as systemic failure in labour law enforcement and to ensure stricter implementation of legal provisions in subordinate courts.