In a significant development, the interim Punjab government has recently announced a noteworthy increase in the minimum wage rates for unskilled adult and adolescent workers employed across all industrial and commercial establishments in the province. This decision is aimed at improving the livelihoods of workers and ensuring fair compensation for their labor.
According to an official notification, the new minimum wage rate has set at Rs 1,230.77 per day for eight hours of work or Rs 32,000 per month (based on 26 working days). It’s important to note that employers will allowed deductions for accommodation and transportation facilities provided to their employees. Specifically, for offering housing accommodation, employers can deduct Rs397 per month, while a deduction of Rs85 per month is permissible for providing transport facilities.
The notification further highlights the commitment to gender equality in wage determination. It states, “As per provision of Rule 15 of the West Pakistan Minimum Wages Rules, 1962, for work of equal value, a female worker of the category shall get the same minimum wages as allowed to a male worker of the category for such work.”
In terms of working conditions and regulations, the daily and weekly working hours, overtime work, work on weekly rest days, and paid holidays for unskilled adult and adolescent workers in this category will governed by the Factories Act, 1934 (Act XXVI of 1934), the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 (No. IV of 1936), and other relevant labor laws, ensuring comprehensive protection for the workforce.
The government has underlined its commitment to equity by stating, “The minimum rates of wages of other categories of workers (highly skilled, skilled, and semi-skilled) employed in any industry shall in no case be less than the minimum rates of wages, now, fixed for unskilled adult and adolescent workers in the Province of Punjab.”
This initiative not only uplifts the living standards of unskilled workers but also demonstrates the government’s dedication to ensuring fair and equitable wages for all categories of workers across the province. This move expected to have a positive impact on the overall well-being of the labor force in Punjab.
