“Employers’ Federation of Pakistan has prepared the draft of the Sindh Contract Labor Regulation Act 2018 to regulate the employment of Contract Labor in certain establishment. The draft will be forwarded to the Sindh Government after extensive consultation with members”. Majyd Aziz, President EFP, stated this at a consultative meeting on Contract Labor attended by a large number of members.
The meeting discussed in detail the Supreme Court Decision on Contract Labor. The legal consultants of EFP, Fasihul Karim Siddiqi, Secretary General EFP and Zaheer Minhas, Advocate, Supreme Court presented an overview of the decision and explained the ramifications of the decision on private sector industries. The Supreme Court decision is a manifestation of the global campaign to provide and protect the fundamental rights of workers.
The legal consultants also advised that contractors’ must maintain and adhere to all conditions of the law. Furthermore, the core jobs in an enterprise should not be outsourced or done through contractors.
The consultants also said that Contract Labor system is prevalent all over the world and there is no possibility of ending Contract Labor. Therefore, the best alternative is that Contract Labor should be provided all legal protection and benefits and that these should be part of all agreements between the primary employer and the contractor.
Abdul Rasheed Solangi, Secretary Sindh Labor Department, who was the Chief Guest, said that his department has been the facilitator for private sector, and at the same time, it has taken steps to protect the workers. However, there is a strong feeling that many workers are being exploited by many in the private sector but, generally, the private sector is commended for providing large number of job opportunities, especially to young workers.
Mr Solangi assured the meeting for addressing that the anomalies in the 13 Sindh Labor Laws, a tripartite committee has been formed to propose required amendments. He again reiterated that all contractors must be registered with the Labor Department. He also advised that employers must pay at least the minimum wage Rs 15,000 per month and criticized those employers who do not fully pay the minimum wage.
Mr Solangi assured that the draft of Sindh Contract Labor Regulation Act 2018 proposed by EFP would be discussed and deliberated in the tripartite committee and would be sent to Chief Minister and hopefully introduced in Sindh Assembly in the coming session.
Earlier, Khawaja Nauman who chaired the meeting welcomed the members and emphasized the imperative need to provide advice and guidance to the private sector. He underscored the need for industrial peace and employment generation.
