Labour LawsMinimum WageSindhMinimum wage Rs. 25,000/= p.m. Declared By Sindh

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Date: 14-07-2021

Circular Number: C-188

Minimum wage Rs. 25,000/= p.m. Declared By Sindh

The Minimum Wages Board, Sindh, under section 4(1) of the Sindh Minimum Wages Act, 2015, recommended the minimum wages for unskilled adult and juvenile workers to the Government of Sindh. The Secretary Labour, Government of Sindh u/s 6 (1) (a) of Sindh Minimum Wages Act 2015, declared the minimum rates of wages vide Notification dated 09-07-2021 Rs.25,000/- per month 961/= per day for unskilled adult and juvenile workers employed in all industrial / commercial establishments in Sindh with effect from 01.07.2021. Salient features of the same are given as under:––

1. Under section 6(1)(a) of the Sindh Minimum Wages Act, 2015, Sindh Government has power to accept the recommendation of the Board as it is and issue Notification for the Minimum Wage or if it considers that the recommendation is not, in any respect, equitable to the employers or the workers, under section 6(1)(b), refer it back to the Board for reconsideration, call comments and hold enquiry. This time the Government of Sindh has accepted the recommendation of the Board without referring it back to the Board for reconsideration, calling comments or holding enquiry. However, as a matter of record and facts, the Minimum Wages Board has never considered any objections from any side and always recommends the same initial minimum wage.
   

1. However even after publication of notification, the Government of Sindh has the power under section 6(5) of The Sindh Minimum Wages Act, 2015, if the newly declared minimum wage is inequitable to employers or workers, it may refer it back to the board to hold further enquiry for reconsideration.
   

2. That minimum wage of unskilled adult and juvenile workers, both male and female, temporary or permanent whole time workers as recommended would be paid Rs. 25,000/= p.m. or Rs. 961/= per day w.e.f. 01-07-2021 as per the provisions of the Sindh Minimum Wages Act, 2015.
   

1. The daily minimum wage for piece rated workers would be 1/26^th of the monthly minimum wage amounting to Rs. 961/= per day or not less than Rs.120.12/= per hour which proportionately includes element of minimum wage for weekly holiday in it and, therefore, no separate payment for weekly off day would be required. Overtime, daily/weekly working hours, weekly rest days, work on weekly holidays, etc shall be governed by relevant provisions of the Sindh Factories Act, 2015, Sindh Payment of Wages Act, 2015, Sindh Shops and Commercial Establishment Act, 2015 and other relevant labour laws.
   

2. Wages of skilled and semiskilled workers may be fixed by employers but the same cannot be less than the minimum wage fixed now for unskilled adult and juvenile workers. The wage would mean as defined by Section 2(xix) of the Sindh Minimum Wages Act, 2015.
   

3. Wages of piece rated workers are also revised which would not be less than this minimum wage be it on monthly, daily, hourly or piece rate basis.
   

4. If any establishment is paying higher than this minimum wage, the same cannot be reduced. The employer is free to pay higher wage voluntarily or by collective agreement keeping in view various factors including high cost of living in a particular locality or other reasons.
   

5. This minimum wage would apply to the permanent, temporary, whole time, monthly rated, daily rated and piece rated unskilled adult male female and juvenile workers and they shall continue to enjoy other existing benefits given to them and the same shall not be adjusted against this minimum wage.
   

For further details if required, you may consult your labour laws consultant.

For M/s S. M. Yaqoob