The Citizens’ Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CCEHR) released its annual report for 2024, unveiling widespread exploitation and human rights violations across Pakistan’s workforce.
The report, based on research, surveys, and information acquired under Article 19A (Right to Information), paints a grim picture of wage theft, hazardous working conditions, and systemic discrimination affecting millions of workers.
While the federal and provincial governments raised the minimum wage for unskilled workers to Rs37,000 monthly, delayed notifications deprived many of this benefit for months. The report said that security guards are also entitled to Rs76,560 for extended duties, but most remain underpaid, highlighting systemic non-compliance with labour laws.
Sanitation workers, among the most marginalized, face egregious violations. Through subcontractors, the report highlighted that the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board pays illegal daily wages of Rs600, far below the legal minimum.
Meanwhile, the workers lack access to Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institutions or Social Security, endure hazardous conditions, and are penalized for absences without any medical benefits.
The report said that child labour is a significant issue, with children as young as 14 performing dangerous tasks such as handling biohazardous waste. Despite public outcry and viral social media coverage, authorities have taken minimal corrective action.
It has revealed rampant exploitation of private security guards by government organisations and private entities. Guards often receive Rs18,000 to Rs32,000 for 12-hour shifts, well below the legal entitlement. Even prominent institutions like Pakistan International Airlines and National Savings fail to comply with wage and EOBI regulations.
Pakistan’s coal miners and manual scavengers endure life-threatening working conditions. In 2024 alone, 102 miners lost their lives in preventable accidents. Miners often work without protective gear, while safety mechanisms remain non-existent. Similarly, manual scavenging—a demeaning and hazardous practice—persists, resulting in numerous fatalities.
The CCEHR has urged immediate reforms to address these violations, like the introduction of a national helpline for wage theft and EOBI violations, mandatory digital wage payments to ensure transparency, a ban on manual scavenging and use of mechanical alternatives, an overhaul of coal mine safety protocols and strict enforcement of the ILO safety code, equitable wage and pension structures for all workers, reducing disparities with high-ranking officials.
The commission emphasised holding key regulatory authorities accountable, including EOBI, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority heads, and municipal bodies. “The systemic exploitation of workers is a stark reminder of Pakistan’s failure to uphold basic human rights,” the report concludes.
The CCEHR appeals to the government, civil society, and citizens to take collective action to build a more equitable and just society.