Pakistani workers face health, economic risks amid coronavirus lockdown, warns HRW

• Social distancing, quarantines, and the closure of businesses will have enormous economic consequences for garment and textile workers, domestic workers, home-based workers, and other workers in low-income households.
• The Pakistan government should take measures so that the loss of livelihood and income doesn’t compound the threats workers face to their health

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged Pakistani authorities to take urgent steps to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 on its most vulnerable workers.

In a statement on Thursday, HRW stated that social distancing, quarantines, and the closure of businesses will have enormous economic consequences for garment and textile workers, domestic workers, home-based workers, and other workers in low-income households.

The government should adopt measures to protect workers affected by COVID-19 from suffering loss of income that would push them further into poverty and deter them from self-isolating to contain the spread of the virus.

“The Pakistan government should take measures so that the loss of livelihood and income doesn’t compound the threats workers face to their health,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “The economically marginalized are among the most vulnerable groups affected by COVID-19, and the government should urgently find ways to protect them.”

The HRW added that these economic shutdowns have a disproportionate effect on women workers, especially home-based workers and domestic workers.

The government should, to the maximum extent of its available resources, provide low-wage workers with assistance to help offset the intense economic hardship and food insecurity from this situation.

“The government’s failure to enforce labor laws has contributed to garment and textile workers being among the most vulnerable segments of Pakistani society,” Adams said. “The Pakistani authorities should meet their obligation to protect workers while considering necessary measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19.”