Working families are being crushed under the weight of inflation. For them, even affording basic necessities — food, rent, electricity — has become a daily struggle. In this context, the Sindh government’s decision to raise the minimum wage for unskilled workers to Rs40,000 might sound like a lifeline. But for most workers, it’s a promise that will never materialise. This is because the real issue isn’t what the minimum wage is, but the fact that it is rarely enforced.
Across the province, and the country, countless businesses continue to pay workers far below the legal threshold. From factories and workshops to retail stores and homes, employees are being exploited with impunity. Many are paid Rs20,000 or less — half of what is legally owed — with no contracts, no protections and no way to raise their voice. The state’s silence in the face of this widespread wage theft is damning.
The problem isn’t new. Labour inspections are infrequent and often compromised. Employers routinely dodge accountability through fake documentation or misclassification of workers. And those who suffer the most — daily wage earners, domestic workers, loaders, janitors — are among the least likely to ever see justice. Raising the minimum wage is only the first step. If the government is serious about protecting workers, it must back its words with action.
Otherwise, these announcements are nothing more than political theatrics. What should be done? Inspections must be frequent and independent. Violations must come with consequences. Workers must be given the tools — and the courage — to speak up.
For Pakistan’s working families, these wages are about dignity and survival. Real progress means making sure every rupee promised actually reaches the hands that earn it.
