Mounting Labor Crisis in Pakistan: A Call for Reforms
By Bilal Akram, CSS Aspirant, Islamabad, September 10, 2023
With political unrest, fiscal instability, and a constitutional crisis, Pakistan is currently enduring one of its most turbulent times. Unfortunately, in these uncertain times, the labor force is the one that is most heavily affected. The rate of inflation in the country has risen, leaving the working class in an extremely insecure situation. The governing elite's inadequate labor policies, which demonstrate a blatant lack of vision and foresight, are to blame for this precarious predicament.
The persistent social, political, and economic instability in Pakistan has hazardous repercussions in the form of the brain drain phenomenon. An increasing number of employees, both skilled and unskilled, are looking for possibilities overseas because they believe that doing so will increase their chances of success and give them a more stable existence, both of which are usually elusive at home. By June of this year, according to recent numbers from the Bureau of Statistics, almost 832,000 people had fled the country. The vast disparity between the rights and living conditions provided to laborers in wealthy countries is what spurs this Völkerwanderung ( mass exodus). The authorities must give top priority to the creation of a comprehensive labor policy that prioritizes reestablishing trust among the working class while also addressing structural lacunae.
Additionally, Pakistan's legislative framework for labor laws needs to be elucidated. The current legal framework has to be drastically streamlined in order to increase accessibility for the average citizen. The framework's overuse of terminology and anomalies only serves to make things more complicated. Additionally, because current laws are out of date and do not sufficiently address challenges at the workplace today, they need to be updated.
The welfare and safety of Pakistan's labor force are of the utmost importance. While occupational health and safety are guaranteed by Pakistan's Constitution in Article 37(e), the actual working environment is deplorable. The current legislation, which has its roots in the Factories Act of 1934, fails to take into account the changing risks and problems that affect workers, which results in a large number of work-related illnesses and accidents every year.
It is imperative to address the culture of unreasonable minimum wages, especially in light of rising inflation rates. Although the government has established the minimum wage at 30,000, it is still essentially impossible for people to get by on such a pittance. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a policy that guarantees a fair salary in line with the average cost of living.
Discrimination is a serious issue that breeds mistrust between workers and the government and is pervasive in both the public and corporate sectors. Discrimination in pay and employment that is based on traits including sex, religion, caste, creed, and political affiliation is still a major problem. The equality of every citizen is affirmed in Article 25 of the Pakistani Constitution, although the system frequently fails to uphold this principle.
The ongoing problem of insecurity in Pakistan is made worse by the use of exploitative labor practices in both the formal and informal sectors. The creation of regulations that shield each individual from capitalist exploitation is necessary in response to this terrible treatment. By creating a consolidated worker database through integrated IT systems, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) might play a crucial role. Strengthening the social security system for workers should be the state's first priority.
Extreme poverty is a menace that breeds child labor. A growing level of political and economic instability is to blame for the fact that more than 40% of the population is now living below the poverty line. Children are frequently sent to work by parents who are struggling to support their families. These defenseless children become convenient prey for abuse and exploitation. Surprisingly, 2,227 instances of child abuse were reported in the first half of 2023, according to Sahil NGO. With more than 22 million children working as children, Pakistan also has the difficulty of having the second-highest rate of out-of-school children. In order to address this issue, appropriate rules and effective enforcement mechanisms must be put in place.
In conclusion, resolving Pakistan's growing labor difficulties necessitates not only the creation of strong legislation but also strict implementation via a modernized inspection system. The advantages of labor policy reforms cannot be felt by the workers without a strong, efficient, and effective inspection apparatus. The state must adopt transparency as a guiding principle and eliminate the hiccups and bottlenecks in the inspection system. These steps are essential not just for the wellbeing of Pakistan's workforce but also for the country's standing as a just and responsible nation abroad.
