Shafaqna Pakistan | by Jawad Naqvi- On Labour Day, Pakistan is at a crossroads, facing a critical need to reframe its narrative on trade unions and labour rights. The country’s labour force, which grapples with numerous challenges, remains caught in a web of poor wages, lack of job stability, and limited freedom to form independent associations.
For far too long, workers have been denied a platform to voice their concerns and demand the reforms they desperately need. For daily-wage workers, May 1 holds little significance beyond a fleeting moment, as their struggles continue to be overlooked.
Despite previous promises from political leaders, including President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, to uphold and strengthen labour rights, these commitments have largely remained unfulfilled. The government’s pledges ring hollow in the face of mounting hardships, and the promises of improved labour welfare seem disconnected from the reality on the ground.
While the global standard for working hours is an eight-hour shift, many workers in Pakistan endure gruelling 16-hour workdays without the benefit of overtime pay. This is further compounded by an economic environment plagued by rampant pay cuts, dismissals, and ever-increasing utility bills and inflation. In this context, unions remain weak, and workers, both mentally and physically exhausted, struggle with low socio-economic productivity, further hindering their capacity to demand change.
The roots of this crisis can be traced back to the era of General Pervez Musharraf, who significantly weakened labour organizations and limited the role of trade unions as negotiators for improved working conditions. Under his regime, the role of unions as a collective voice for workers was dramatically curtailed.
Furthermore, the Pakistan Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1952, continues to be used by elected governments to curtail union activities, particularly in essential public sector organizations like Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). This restriction not only prevents workers from organizing but also paints them as a burden to the state rather than a vital component of the economy.
Moreover, even when minimum wage levels are raised, the implementation of these increases is often delayed, with wage boards dragging their feet on the necessary notifications. As a result, thousands of workers remain underpaid, despite the promises of wage reform.
In Pakistan’s informal economy, the situation is even worse, as workers in domestic and unskilled jobs are at the mercy of private employers. These workers often face unstable conditions, including low pay, lack of health coverage, and no guarantee of job security.
The state must take immediate action to address these issues. Workers’ rights should be recognized as fundamental human rights, not as optional or secondary concerns in policy decisions. The government must initiate reforms that ensure decent wages, safe working conditions, health coverage for workers and their families, and educational support for their children.
Labour dignity should be a priority, and the government should provide the necessary protections to empower unions to function effectively and negotiate on behalf of the workers they represent.
In light of the ongoing economic crisis, it is imperative that Pakistan foster an environment where workers, the government, and labour unions work in concert. A more equitable and sustainable economy depends on the well-being of the labour force, which requires fair wages, protections, and opportunities for growth. Labour Day should serve as a reminder to both the government and the citizens of Pakistan that the rights of workers must be respected and upheld, as they are the backbone of the nation’s progress and prosperity.
Source: Shafaqna Pakistan
Note: Shafaqna do not endorse the views expressed in the article