Labour rights

THE annual observance of May Day should move beyond statements about the state’s commitment to the rights of workers and serve, instead, as a stock-taking exercise to see how far the nation lags behind in securing fair wages and decent working conditions for the toiling masses.

Currently, many workers in Pakistan have to deal with job insecurity, safety hazards at workplaces, and next to no benefits beyond their meagre wages, which, too, at times are held up on flimsy pretexts. It is also a fact that most workers in the country are part of the informal sector, with only 2-3pc of the workforce unionised. This situation suits most tycoons and business magnates as they can concentrate on maximising profits at the expense of workers’ welfare.

Trade unions have been active in the country since the time of independence, and saw their heyday during Zufikar Ali Bhutto’s government. But since the time of Gen Zia onwards, their power and influence have been diminishing. Today, experts point out, a considerable number of human resource managers themselves are unaware of the labour laws. Ignorance allows employers to deny even those labour rights that are enshrined in the law.

The struggle for securing the legitimate rights of workers across all sectors must continue. Here, the state, unions and progressive employers must all play their part. While unions have also at times affected the working atmosphere negatively through strong-arm tactics, arguably, without effective unions, employers have had a free hand in denying workers their rights. In many instances, employers do not even pay the minimum wage set by the provinces, while contractual hiring is resorted to in order to save on regular employee benefits.

The state is not without blame either; it looks the other way when labour rights are trampled on. For the country to progress, workers deserve fair wages, safe workplaces and quality health and education facilities for their families. These goals can be achieved if the state enforces the labour laws and addresses legal lacunae. Meanwhile, undocumented workers should be registered.

Employers must realise that satisfied and well-paid workers will raise productivity and should refrain from cutting corners and denying workers their rights. Workers are not asking for the moon; they only want dignity, better working conditions and a living wage to help battle the tidal wave of inflation.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2026