SHC expresses displeasure over chairman wage board in Minimum wages case

KARACHI Sep 02,2021- Sindh High Court expressed displeasure over chairman wage board, as he did not raise objection when the board was recommending rise in minimum wages.

The lawyer of Wage Board told the Sindh High Court that industrialists have said they can’t raise wages because of the COVID. He further told the court that salary was increased in 2016-2017.

Sindh High court heard the petition about fixation of minimum wages. Chairman of the Wage Board, lawyers of industry owners and others were present in the court.

The issue was cropped up when the Sindh government fixed 25,000 minimum wages for workers a few months back.

The representative of the workers said that the salary is 19000. The court remarked that in Balochistan and Punjab minimum wage is Rs 20,000 but there is no conflict.

The court asked that the government has fixed the salary at 25,000, whereas according to law the government can fix the wages without recommendations.

Justice Salahuddin Panhwar asked the chairman wage board, as to why he didn’t object when the wage board was recommending new wages. The lawyer of the Wage Board read out the summary of cabinet.

Counsel for trade unions said that A 20% increase for the skilled worker is included in the Wage Board’s charter.

The court asked the lawyer of trade union that will he agree on KPK government wage rate which is Rs21,000?

The court said that industrialists do not voluntarily increase the wages of the workers.

The lawyers of industrialists said that workers were being paid more than the minimum wages. The court said if at least you are paying more than Rs 25,000 then what is the point of filing a case. At this stage lawyer for trade union pointed out,“We are talking about minimum wage, not high wage”.

The court adjourned further hearing of the case till September 7, and directed the officers of the Wage Board to attend it.

The petition was filed by different civil society organisations and trade unions.