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of the rights of women workers, a peasant-friendly policy for distribution of
inputs and for marketing of the farm produce. The participants at the convention
noted that studies by economists had shown that the skewed land ownership
pattern in the country was hampering economic growth and spread of
education, besides increasing food insecurity and mass poverty. The convention
called upon all political parties to give the peasantry’s interests and concerns a
prominent place in their manifestos and programmes.
Although workers’ representatives were free to contest elections in theory,
they could not afford the tens of millions that even mildly effective campaigns
cost. Since no labour quota existed in either the National Assembly or in
provincial legislatures, the workers found themselves excluded from having a
say in matters that affected them.
Labour
Wages and pensions
The issue of minimum wage remained a point of contention between
workers and the government. Even though the provincial governments of
Punjab and Balochistan increased minimum wage from Rs 7,000 to Rs 9,000
in 2012, the figure remained divorced from ground realities. The question of
deciding the minimum wage was devolved to the provinces. The provinces of
Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan decided on a new minimum wage in 2012,
while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa did not. In May, the federal government also raised
the minimum wage by Rs 1,000 which was only applicable in areas governed
by the federation. Labourers rejected the revised minimum wage as utterly
inadequate and nothing more than a token gesture on May 1. They said that
the wage revision had not accounted for inflation. Workers’ organisations
demanded a minimum wage between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000 per month in
order to enable workers to meet the cost of living.
The Minimum Wage Ordinance 1961 addresses procedural issues in setting
up committees in order to determine the minimum wage but does not mention
the considerations taken into account to decide the figure. This allows the
federal or provincial government to decide the figure on their whim. Even
though it is mandatory to include a workers’ representative in the four-member
committee, the representative has not been able to sway committee’s decisions.
The workers’ representatives, even when acceptable to a majority of workers,
have limited influence on the decision-making process.
The enforcement of the minimum wage remained a problem in the year
under review. Employers who refused to give the minimum wage were not
brought to justice and in many cases went unreported since employees feared
termination of employment. Enforcement can only be ensured when
accountability is promised through a fair justice system.
The non-payment of salaries caused grievances and even suicides among
workers in 2012. Numerous cases of holding back salaries emerged throughout
the year. In January, caretakers at an old-age home in Multan had not been