KARACHI: President, North Karachi Association of Trade & Industry (NKATI), Faisal Moiz Khan has demanded of the Sindh government to review the decision to raise minimum wages to Rs 25,000, saying minimum wages in Sindh be at par of other provinces including Punjab.
In a statement, he said that the decision to fix the minimum wages at Rs 25,000 per month against the recommendations of the Minimum Wage Board should be reconsidered by the Sindh government. Otherwise, the cost of industries in Sindh will increase exponentially and they will not be able to compete.
In an appeal to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Faisal Moiz Khan mentioned the recommendations of the Minimum Wage Board and expressed serious concerns over the Sindh government's disregard to the recommendations of the Wage Board and imposing 'arbitrary decisions' on industries.
"On the one hand, the Sindh Chief Minister is saying that the Sindh government was providing facilities for the promotion of trade & industry. On the other hand, by setting the minimum wages of Rs 25,000, self-serving decisions are being made without consulting the stakeholders that in any case is not in favour of trade and industry," he added.
NKATI president opined that the Sindh government has fixed the minimum wages at Rs 25,000 in Sindh as against Rs.19,000 in other provinces, which is causing concern in the industrial community and now the matter is being heard in the Hon'ble Sindh High Court. The cross-examination has been completed and a decision on the petition is expected in the next hearing.
"Industries in Sindh are facing huge problems due to the continuous increase in production costs; the growth of industries is slowing down and now the decision of the Sindh government to fix the minimum wages at Rs 25,000 will have a negative impact on them. In these circumstances, how the industries of Sindh will compete with other provinces." he asked.
He further said that the Sindh government should understand that Minimum Wage Board is part of the law and must follow its recommendations and not take anti-industry decisions. Who will be responsible for unemployment if industries stop working, as the government has no means of providing employment, he asked.
Faisal Moiz Khan appealed Sindh Chief Minister to follow the recommendations of Minimum Wage Board and like other provinces Sindh should also implement minimum wages on equal basis.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021