ISLAMABAD – The Hon’ble Supreme Court of Pakistan has granted the Leave to Appeal to the petitioner companies represented by EFP through its counsel Mr. Zaheer Minhas Advocate Supreme Court.
Mr. Zaki Ahmed Khan Acting President EFP, in his statement, explained the background of the litigation. According to him, upon the advent of 18th amendment in the Constitution of Pakistan 1973, in 2010 when the minimum wage specified under Minimum Wage Ordinance 1969 exceeded Rs. 10,000/- per month, the Sindh Social Security Institution started demanding and coercively collecting contribution at the rate of minimum wages varying from time to time, which led to filing of hundreds of petitions in the Hon’ble Sindh High Court. However, the Hon’ble Sindh High Court erroneously held that the contribution is payable as per minimum wages prevailing in different years.
Mr. Zaki further added that, being aggrieved a number of companies approached Hon’ble Supreme Court of Pakistan through Employers Federation of Pakistan and Hon’ble Supreme Court, while granting leave has ordered that henceforth till final decision the petitioner companies shall pay Rs. 600/- per employee per month to SESSI till 12th April 2016 and thereafter at the rate of 6% of monthly minimum wage. Any difference of excess amount shall be subject to adjustment.
Mr. Zaki Ahmed Khan hailed the decision of Hon’ble Supreme Court and termed it as a timely decision to save the employers from the high handedness of the Social Security Institution which have been illegally coercing the companies to collect arbitrary claims through arrears of Land Revenue proceedings.
He appealed the companies to take maximum advantage of this order to avail the relief.
