Poverty stands out as the single largest barrier in the way of achieving a high capitalisation rate of human resource in any country. Uplifting the masses is thus the first and the foremost aim of all sane nations.
The reality of Pakistan is just the opposite. The state itself is the biggest ‘manufacturer’ of poverty for its people. A number of state organisations in the country use hundreds of private security guards and pay them Rs17,000 to Rs18,000 per month for a 12-hour shift for 30 days a month. The minimum legal wage, as we all know is Rs25,000 for eight hours per day and Rs50,000 for a 12-hour shift. The guards also have no social security as they are not registered with the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI), which means they must adopt beggary as their new profession on reaching the age of superannuation.
Often state organisations take refuge behind the false argument that these guards are the responsibility of the private security contractors. This is utterly incorrect as the law makes it mandatory on the principal employer to ensure compliance with all labour laws.
When reputed organisations adopt such illegal poverty promotion practices, they transmit a strong message to others that illegal wages, exploitation and cruelty are acceptable practices in the country.
The rulers must stop pampering the rich and should penalise them so that they may ensure that all security guards and sanitation workers in the country get the defined minimum wage as well as EOBI coverage.
NAEEM SADIQ
KARACHI
