OPF workers: NA body concerned at failure to implement minimum daily wage rates

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis expressed serious concern over the continued failure to implement the minimum daily wage rates for workers of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), as approved by Parliament in the Federal Budget 2026-27.

Committee Chairman Syed Rafiullah expressed serious concern and questioned why the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis had not implemented the minimum daily wage rates announced by the federal government during the budget session in June 2026. He said that the private sector was bound to implement the government’s announcement, but a public-sector institution had failed to do so even after four months.

Federal Secretary for the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry said that, under the prescribed procedure, the Ministry’s Board would approve the minimum daily wage rates announced by the federal government. He said that a Board meeting would be held for approval.

The Committee Chairman said, “Officers in grades 20 to 22 instantly implement government announcements regarding increases in their salaries, perks and privileges, but they are not ready to implement the same for poor workers. The poor workers have to wait for a Board meeting and its subsequent approval.”

Responding to the Chairman, the Federal Secretary said that a resolution would be approved by the Ministry’s Board at its next meeting within the coming few days. He said that once the resolution was passed, there would be no need for Board approval in future.

The Committee expressed reservations over the replies regarding payment of the minimum wage and recommended that all boards and organisations under the Ministry introduce rules or a mechanism to ensure that the revised minimum wage is paid as soon as the Federal Government announces an increase.

The Committee emphasized the need to ensure better salary packages, allied benefits and financial protection for mine workers and their families. It also recommended strengthening workplace safety management, ensuring strict compliance with safety standards, and providing necessary protective equipment to prevent accidents and save precious lives.

Reviewing the coal mine incident at Sorrange in Balochistan, the Committee was informed that three inspectors had been suspended by the Mines Department and two officials by the Labour Department of the Government of Balochistan. First Information Reports had been lodged, show-cause notices issued to the companies concerned, and 34 cheques handed over to the Deputy Commissioner for distribution among the affected families.

The Committee recommended that all provinces and Gilgit-Baltistan increase financial grants to workers affected by such incidents to Rs 3 million.

The Committee further sought complete details of the investment portfolio and interest income of all departments under the Ministry. It also recommended that the Workers Welfare Fund’s present details of every proposal submitted to its Board at future meetings.

The Committee deferred the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Emigration (Amendment) Bill, 2026, along with its review of recommendations concerning the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment.

The meeting was attended by MNAs Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti, Dr MahreenRazzaq Bhutto, Fateh Ullah Khan, Mohammad Ilyas Choudhary, Sofia Saeed Shah (virtually), Saeeda Jamshid, Mian Khan Bugti, Farhan Chishti and Erum Hamid, along with Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain, the Secretary and senior officials of the Ministry, EOBI, OPF, the Ministry of Law and Justice, and the Labour and Mines Departments of the Government of Balochistan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026