Karachi: The Sindh government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening labour rights and formalizing the workforce, as it marked International Labour Day with renewed policy assurances, including a possible increase in the minimum wage in the upcoming provincial budget.
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Sindh Government spokesperson Sukhdev Hemnani said the province is steadily transitioning from an informal labour structure toward a regulated, rights-based system where workers are formally registered, legally protected, and integrated into welfare networks.
He highlighted that Sindh has positioned itself as a policy leader in labour reforms through the Sindh Labour Policy 2018, which focuses on workplace safety standards, enforcement of minimum wage regulations, and elimination of exploitative labour practices.
Hemnani noted that Sindh was the first province to introduce legislation for home-based workers under the Sindh Home-Based Workers Act 2018, extending legal recognition and protection to an estimated five million workers previously outside formal coverage.
Providing implementation figures, he said more than 850,000 workers are currently registered across over 34,600 establishments under the Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI). He added that provincial labour healthcare facilities have treated over 7.2 million patients, while the Sindh Workers Welfare Fund has disbursed more than Rs 60 billion in pensions, grants, and educational support.
On wage policy, the spokesperson said the minimum wage in Sindh has increased from Rs 6,000 in 2008 to Rs 40,000 in 2025, describing it as evidence of sustained policy alignment with inflation and cost-of-living pressures. He further indicated that the provincial government is actively reviewing proposals to raise the minimum wage again in the next budget.
Hemnani also pointed to digital reforms, including the Benazir Mazdoor Card initiative, under which over 202,000 workers have been registered to facilitate access to healthcare, financial assistance, and social protection through a centralized system.
While acknowledging gaps in coverage of the informal sector, he said the government is expanding enforcement mechanisms and digital tracking systems to bring more workers into the formal framework.
“Labour is not a slogan for Sindh — it is a policy pillar. We are moving from intent to execution, ensuring every worker is visible, protected, and economically empowered,” he said.
