ISLAMABAD: It is shocking that the existing labour laws in the federal capital do not cover the domestic workers, therefore, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration cannot inspect or protect the rights of the children working in the houses, thus raising many eyebrows.
According to the documents available with Pakistan Today, ICT administration can neither inspect any house and domestic workers nor pursue their particular cases. The administration cannot protect the rights of any domestic worker or children working in the houses due to the lack of relevant laws.
It is important to mention here that current labour laws are numerous which creates confusion among the ICT administration officials.
An official of ICT while requesting anonymity said, “Currently, there are 74 labour laws but most of them are not clear and overlap each other, due to which ICT administration is codifying four labour laws with the help of International Labour Organisation (ILO), Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (Mophrd), and Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan.”
Four laws which are being codified include Employment and Services Condition Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act, Trade Union Registration and Industrial Relations Act, and Workers Social Security, Welfare and Compensation Act.
First two laws, Employment and Services Condition Act and Occupational Safety and Health Act, have been approved by the Mophrd and same was forwarded to the Ministry of Interior for onward submission to the National Assembly for legislation.
However, authorities are working to get the Trade Union Registration and Industrial Relations Act, and Workers Social Security, Welfare and Compensation Act approved and sent to National Assembly for legislation.
It is to be noted that the ICT’s labour welfare department is responsible for the implementation of all labour laws in the capital. Inspection of factories/shops and commercial establishments, registration of factories, registration of shops and commercial establishments and other matters from Islamabad are among the functions and objectives of the department.
Every now and then, the said department raids on the shops and factories established in the capital and ensure the implementation of labour laws with notified minimum wages. Besides that, the department also checks weights and measures in local markets and the violators are taken to task either by fining them or issuing the summons for hearing in the labour court for further necessary actions.
