Minister says labour code to be enforced after stakeholder consultation

KARACHI: Sindh Labour, Human Resources and Social Protection Minister Saeed Ghani has ruled out the proposed Labour Code in the province without the support of the workers, employers and other stakeholders.

“We will not enforce the Labour Code in Sindh without consultation with the stakeholders,” Ghani said while addressing the concluding session of a National Labour Conference 2026, organised by the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) on Saturday.

He said consultations on the Labour Code were continuing and considerable progress had already been made, adding that the government wanted legislation that adequately protected the rights and interests of both workers and employers.

He said several labour laws had been improved, while further amendments were still required. He said he had introduced a number of reforms in the Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI), Workers Welfare Board and Labour Department when he served as labour minister during the last three years of the 2018-23 provincial government.

He said the reform process subsequently lost continuity after the 2024 elections when he was assigned the Local Government and other portfolios, despite his desire to retain the labour ministry.

“Now that I have again been made labour minister, the new problem of corruption in the Workers Welfare Board is standing before me,” he said.

Ghani alleged that attempts to act against corruption in the Workers Welfare Board had repeatedly been challenged in court. “Whenever I remove those involved in corruption, the courts reinstate them. Even inquiry committees are stopped from functioning.”

He said the board’s operations had currently come to a standstill despite the availability of substantial funds for workers’ welfare.

Responding to concerns raised at the conference over workers allegedly being denied the minimum wage, Ghani said the Labour Department did not have sufficient manpower to inspect millions of factories and workplaces on a daily basis.

He said officials took action when violations were identified during inspections, but acknowledged that inspection alone could not resolve the issue.

“If a worker is not being paid the minimum wage by an establishment, he or she should lodge a complaint with us, and we can take immediate action against it,” he said.

He said instructions had been issued to accelerate implementation of the Benazir Mazdoor Card, which had progressed slowly, partly because of delays by departmental officials.

Referring to HIV cases at the SESSI-run Valika Hospital, Ghani said he had learnt of the matter before it was reported by the media and had immediately ordered an inquiry. He said further committees were subsequently constituted and action was being taken against those found responsible.

He said the provincial government had established a Rs2 billion endowment fund and was providing Rs40,000 per month to the affected child’s family for the child’s welfare. He said the child was also receiving treatment at a hospital under SESSI.

The Minister said the government was also taking steps to improve SESSI hospitals. Under the first phase of a public-private partnership, Valika Hospital in SITE was being handed over to private management, he said, clarifying that ownership would remain with the Labour Department and responsibility would continue to rest with the government.

He said hospitals in Landhi and other areas would subsequently be considered for similar management arrangements to improve healthcare standards.

Ghani said large SESSI hospitals were also being established in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and other areas with high concentrations of workers, where comprehensive medical facilities would be available under one roof.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026