Supreme Court asks government to ensure implementation of minimum wage

The Supreme Court on Monday directed federal and provincial governments to ensure implementation of Rs 7,000 per month as minimum wage to non-skilled workers in both public and private sector organisations throughout the country.
A four-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry comprising Justice Muhammad Sair Ali, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday, was hearing a suo motu case, initiated on the application of security guards deployed in PTCL.
Appearing on notice, federal and provincial secretaries assured the court that Rs 7,000 per month as minimum wages would be ensured and strict action would be taken against the violators. The PTCL counsel also assured the court that his client would implement the court directives from this month (February). The court ordered for establishing complaint cells in every district for implementing its order in this regard.
The bench also directed the concerned authorities to conduct survey for ensuring the minimum wages and also proceed against those persons, who are reluctant in paying the minimum wages. The court redirected the respective secretaries of the provincial governments, Commissioner Islamabad and Chairman PTCL to ensure the enforcement of the Ordinance of 1969 in letter and spirit and disposed of the matter.