Pakistan: Unions fight “unified labour law” that threatens workers’ rights

The Government of Pakistan has announced the development of a “unified labour law,” particularly in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh. The measure aims to consolidate and streamline 25 existing labour laws covering occupational safety and health, industrial relations, and working conditions into a single labour code. Trade unions in Pakistan, including BWI affiliates, have raised strong concerns about these changes, arguing that they are detrimental to workers’ rights.

Key issues identified by the unions include the weakening of trade union power, particularly the right to strike, the promotion and legitimisation of labour contractualization, and restrictions on labour inspections. BWI trade union affiliates have also expressed alarm over the unilateral nature of the labour law reform process, which is being carried out without proper consultation. This approach violates the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 144 on Tripartite Consultation, to which Pakistan is a signatory.

The proposed changes to the labour laws are expected to significantly undermine the legal protections available to workers, especially those in the vast informal sector, and curtail the power of trade unions. Ishtiaq Virk, a member of the BWI Asia Pacific Regional Committee, expressed strong disapproval, stating, “We strongly oppose the anti-labour and anti-union clauses being introduced by the provincial governments, which disregard the consultative process with trade unions in Pakistan. The unified code, once passed in Punjab and Sindh, could also lead to labour law changes in other provinces, resulting in widespread violations of workers’ rights, including the right to organize and bargain. These developments come at a time when the working class is already experiencing severe economic strain, and these changes could further aggravate their vulnerability.”