Pakistan is suffering through a time of severe economic insecurity. Accordingly, the people of Pakistan are not getting access to minimum wages. The country’s people are struggling with high inflation and economic uncertainty. The government needs help to enforce minimum wage laws in light of the situation. The Executive Director of the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER), Karamat Ali, interacted with the meeting.
During the interaction, the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research Executive Director shared that 80% of unskilled workers in the country still need to receive the minimum wage. Historically, high inflation has worsened people’s suffering. In March, the country recorded high inflation of 35.4%. This has majorly impacted the purchasing power of the people.
The experts have estimated through a recent World Bank report that 83% of households in Pakistan need to receive the minimum USD 2 a day required to sustain basic needs. In the last few months, several people in the country are not been making a minimum wage of 25,000 a month in several parts of the country.
All this while, Pakistan’s Punjab Government has announced an increase in the minimum wage. As per the estimates, the people’s minimum wage will increase from 25,000 to 32,000. However, the government has no mechanisms to implement these changes in the present circumstances.
The government can not ascertain what public or private enterprise owners pay their employees. Meanwhile, in light of the increased inflation rates and the economic crisis that Pakistan is struggling with, the authorities ascertained that the people should get a minimum wage of PKR 50,000.
As per experts, this amount will cover the cost of necessities, including food, water, shelter, healthcare and education. According to the experts, the ongoing economic crisis in Pakistan has led to a severe shortage of funds, skyrocketing prices of essential goods and a lack of jobs. According to estimates, approximately 5 million people are currently unemployed in the country.
The situation has accordingly caused a swell in violence and a surge in the rise of street crime and theft.
