Pakistan: Sindh government announces Rs37,000 minimum wage
Existing benefits like accommodation, utilities, medical care, and other welfare provisions will continue to be offered in addition to the minimum wage.
Karachi: In a significant move aimed at improving the livelihoods of workers in the province, the Sindh government has set a new minimum monthly wage of Rs37,000, effective from July 1, 2024. The announcement was made in a provincial government handout.
The decision to increase the minimum wage is seen as a step towards ensuring fair compensation for workers across all sectors in Sindh.
The Sindh Minimum Wages Board has issued a formal notification, inviting objections and suggestions from the public and concerned parties regarding the proposed wage. The deadline for submitting feedback is 14 days from the date of the notification's publication.
The broad applicability of the new wage
The new minimum wage will apply uniformly across Sindh to all unskilled adult, adolescent, and female workers employed in both registered and unregistered industrial and commercial establishments. The government has emphasized that the rates will be consistently implemented throughout the province.
Enforcement
To ensure compliance, the Sindh Minimum Wages Act 2015 will be enforced. The regulations will encompass various aspects of workers' rights, including daily and weekly working hours, overtime conditions, rest days, and paid holidays.
These provisions are aligned with other labor laws such as the Sindh Factories Act 2015 and the Payment of Wages Act 2015.
Additional safeguards for workers
The notification clarifies that the minimum wage for unskilled workers in any industry cannot be lower than the specified rate for adult and adolescent workers in Sindh. Moreover, all industries, regardless of registration status, are obligated to adhere to the outlined wage structure.
To provide further protection for workers, the government has reaffirmed that existing benefits like accommodation, utilities, medical care, and other welfare provisions will continue to be offered in addition to the minimum wage.
Importantly, the value of any allowances or facilities will not be deducted from the stipulated minimum wage.
Compliance and redressal
The Sindh government has also outlined a mechanism for addressing complaints related to non-compliance with the minimum wage. Workers can file complaints with the Minimum Wages Board under the provisions of the Sindh Minimum Wages Act 2015.
Source: Express Tribune