Govt increases minimum wages

LAHORE: The Punjab government has officially increased the minimum wages of workers to 40,000 monthly, according to a notification issued by the Labour and Human Resource Department.

Adult and adolescent workers working in all industrial and commercial establishments across the province will now be eligible for a minimum monthly wage of Rs. 40,000 for 26 working days, as per the notification.

It also makes it clear that the workers will get Rs. 1,538.46 a day for an eight-hour working day, and the hourly rate has been set at Rs. 192.31.

Employers can also deduct some allowances with the mutual consent of the worker, such as Rs. 100 for each meal for food, Rs. 1,800 monthly for transport, and Rs. 2,000 monthly for housing.

The government has made it clear that if higher wages are already paid, they cannot be lowered under this notification. Employers are free to pay higher wages by skill, experience, or other means, however.

The notification ensures equality of pay, whereby female employees get the same pay as male employees for equal value work.