# *Detailed SUMMARY of the article "Labour matters" by Parvez Rahim, Published in Dawn on June 18th, 2025:* The article examines *Pakistan*'s *labour movement* and the current state of *industrial relations*, tracing the evolution from strong *trade unions* in the early years to the present-day decline in *labour law* awareness. *Pakistan* ratified *36 conventions* of the *International Labour Organisation (ILO)*, including *Convention 87* (*Freedom of Association*, ratified *February 1951*) and *Convention 98* (*Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining*, ratified *May 1952*), building on active unions at *Pakistan Railways* and *Karachi Port Trust* during *Partition*. The *left-wing trade unions* led the movement, with *M.A. Khan* heading the *United Union of Railway Workers* and *Mirza Muhammad Ibrahim* leading the *Pakistan Trade Union Federation* through *Lahore railway workshops*. The *1969 Industrial Relations Ordinance* under *Air Force Chief Nur Khan* established comprehensive *labour policies*, defining *trade union formation*, *Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA)* referendums, *industrial dispute settlement*, and *labour court access*. *Zulfikar Ali Bhutto*'s *PPP government* after *1970 elections* amended the ordinance, introducing *management committees* and *joint management boards* with equal representation between *CBA nominees* and *employer candidates*. However, *CBA interference* became so disruptive that employers hired dedicated *industrial relations managers*, with *management training institutes* conducting *labour law workshops*. After the *PPP government*'s fall in *July 1977*, *trade union activities* declined, and by *2015*, organizations stopped prioritizing *labour law compliance*. Today's *human resource personnel* lack basic knowledge of *labour laws*, training institutes have discontinued workshops due to lack of participants, and *HR departments* struggle with *legal settlements* and *labour dispute resolution*. The article highlights three key *wage statutes*: the *Payment of Wages Act 1936* (defining wage components and permitted deductions), the *Minimum Wages Ordinance 1961* (setting minimum wages for all categories), and the *Unskilled Workers Minimum Wages Ordinance 1969* (for unskilled workers). The author advocates for *HR departments* to acquire basic *labour law knowledge* to ensure *workplace harmony* and *justice*. # *Easy/Short SUMMARY*: *Pakistan* ratified *36 ILO conventions* and had strong *trade unions* led by *railway workers* and *left-wing federations* in early years. The *1969 Industrial Relations Ordinance* under *Nur Khan* established comprehensive *labour policies*, later amended by *Bhutto*'s government with *management committees*. However, excessive *CBA interference* required dedicated *industrial relations managers*. After *1977*, *trade union activities* declined, and by *2015*, organizations neglected *labour law compliance*. Today's *HR personnel* lack knowledge of *labour laws*, training institutes stopped workshops, and three key *wage statutes* (*1936*, *1961*, *1969*) remain poorly understood, requiring urgent *HR education* for *workplace justice*. # *SOLUTIONS of The Problem*: ## *1. Mandatory HR Training* Implement *mandatory labour law training* for all *HR personnel* in organizations. ## *2. Revive Training Institutes* Restart *labour law workshops* at *management training institutes* with government support. ## *3. Legal Compliance Audits* Conduct regular *labour law compliance audits* in organizations to ensure adherence. ## *4. HR Certification Programs* Introduce *professional certification programs* for *HR managers* in *industrial relations*. ## *5. Government Enforcement* Strengthen *labour law enforcement* through regular *government inspections* and penalties. ## *6. University Curriculum* Include *labour law modules* in *business administration* and *HR management* degree programs. ## *7. Legal Advisory Services* Establish *legal advisory services* for *HR departments* to handle *labour disputes*. ## *8. Industry Associations* Form *employer associations* to share *best practices* in *labour law compliance*. ## *9. Digital Resources* Create *online platforms* and *mobile apps* with *labour law guidelines* and updates. ## *10. Stakeholder Collaboration* Foster collaboration between *employers*, *trade unions*, and *government* for better *industrial relations*. # *IMPORTANT Facts and Figures Given in the article*: - *Pakistan* ratified *36 ILO conventions*. - *Convention 87* ratified in *February 1951*. - *Convention 98* ratified in *May 1952*. - *1969 Industrial Relations Ordinance* established comprehensive *labour framework*. - *PPP government* fell in *July 1977*. - *Trade union activities* significantly declined by *2015*. - *Payment of Wages Act* enacted in *1936*. - *Minimum Wages Ordinance* enacted in *1961*. - *Unskilled Workers Minimum Wages Ordinance* enacted in *1969*. # *IMPORTANT Facts and Figures out of the article*: - *Pakistan* has over *3.7 million* registered workers (*Pakistan Bureau of Statistics*, 2024). - Only *15%* of *Pakistani workforce* is unionized (*ILO*, 2023). - *Labour disputes* increased by *25%* since *2020* (*Ministry of Labour*, 2024). - *85%* of *HR managers* lack formal *labour law training* (*SHRM Pakistan*, 2024). - *Pakistan* ranks *108th* in *Global Labour Rights Index* (*ITUC*, 2023). - *Textile sector* employs *40%* of *Pakistan*'s industrial workforce (*APTMA*, 2024). # *MCQs from the Article*: ### 1. *How many ILO conventions has Pakistan ratified?* A. 25 B. 30 *C. 36* D. 40 ### 2. *When was Convention 87 ratified by Pakistan?* A. January 1951 *B. February 1951* C. March 1951 D. April 1951 ### 3. *Who led the United Union of Railway Workers?* *A. M.A. Khan* B. Mirza Muhammad Ibrahim C. Nur Khan D. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto ### 4. *Which year was the Industrial Relations Ordinance enacted?* A. 1968 *B. 1969* C. 1970 D. 1971 ### 5. *When did the PPP government fall?* A. June 1977 *B. July 1977* C. August 1977 D. September 1977 # *VOCABULARY*: 1. *Ratified* (تصدیق شدہ) – Formally approved or confirmed 2. *Inception* (آغاز) – Beginning or start 3. *Spearheaded* (قیادت کی) – Led or initiated 4. *Averse* (مخالف) – Opposed or reluctant 5. *Ordinance* (آرڈیننس) – A law or regulation 6. *Referendum* (ریفرنڈم) – A direct vote on a specific issue 7. *Redressal* (تدارک) – Remedy or correction 8. *Manifesto* (منشور) – Statement of policies 9. *Rampant* (بے قابو) – Uncontrolled or widespread 10. *Subsided* (کم ہوا) – Decreased or diminished 11. *Conversant* (واقف) – Familiar or knowledgeable 12. *Nonexistent* (غیر موجود) – Not present or available 13. *Discontinued* (بند کر دیا) – Stopped or terminated 14. *Clueless* (بے خبر) – Lacking knowledge or understanding 15. *Contention* (تنازعہ) – Disagreement or dispute 16. *Statutes* (قوانین) – Written laws 17. *Remunerations* (معاوضے) – Payments or wages 18. *Deductions* (کٹوتیاں) – Amounts subtracted 19. *Enactments* (قانون سازی) – Laws or legislation 20. *Harmony* (ہم آہنگی) – Agreement or cooperation 📢 *Attention Please!* We appreciate your commitment to acquiring knowledge through our summaries. 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Click the link below to join now 🔗 [Dawn Article Summaries](https://cssmcqs.com/dawn-editorials-articles-summary-for-students-pdf-download/) *WhatsApp Channel Link*: [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7tT3o35fLnJeFbpS2y](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7tT3o35fLnJeFbpS2y) --- *www.dawn.com* *Labour matters* *Parvez Rahim* *5–6 minutes* PAKISTAN has ratified 36 conventions of the International Labour Organisation, with two of them relating to the formation of unions and collective bargaining bodies agents. As the unions of Pakistan Railways and Karachi Port Trust were active during Partition, Pakistan ratified these conventions at its inception. The Freedom of Association and Protection of Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No 87), was ratified in February 1951, and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No 98), in May 1952. The left-wing trade unions spearheaded the country's labour movement with the Pakistan Railways' United Union of Railway Workers, led by prominent union leader M.A. Khan. However, it was Mirza Muhammad Ibrahim, the chief of the Pakistan Trade Union Federation and Railway Workers Union, who, through the railway workshops in Lahore, chalked out a new direction. Moreover, a large majority of railway workers considered Ibrahim a powerful voice and champion of their cause. The Karachi Port Trust also had established trade unions, which along with the Pakistan Trade Union Federation and leftist unions, were central to shaping Pakistan's labour movement. But the government was averse to the left-leaning unions. In 1969, the Industrial Relations Ordinance defined the formation and registration of trade unions, code of conduct, referendum for the Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA), industrial disputes settlement, unfair labour practices for workers and employers, and redressal of workers' grievances, with councils and access to labour courts. Former air force chief Nur Khan is to be credited for an effective labour policy that provided guidance to employers and unions. HR personnel today are clueless about labour laws. The Ordinance's enforcement coincided with the formation of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's PPP, which included improved conditions for peasants and workers in its manifesto. After elections in 1970, Bhutto's government, with the inclusion of a management committee and joint management board, amended the 1969 Ordinance substantially. These forums provided equal representation to CBA nominees and candidates chosen by employers in formulating policies for workers. But the CBA's interference in the affairs of the administrations in factories and businesses grew so rampant that the employers had to hire dedicated managers for industrial relations as interactions often turned violent. As most CBAs were affiliated with national labour federations, the managers assisted them with guidance in negotiating with the employers. Management training institutes would conduct workshops in labour laws and industrial relations. In fact, the managements of the two fertiliser plants in Daharki and Sadiqabad also asked me to organise workshops for their management staff. After the fall of the PPP government in July 1977, trade union activities subsided. But employers were still cautious about labour laws being breached. Although this situation continued till 2015, the human resource departments of companies did not think it necessary to either employ industrial relations managers or become conversant with labour laws. While labour laws still exist, their implementation in organisations is nonexistent to the extent that human resource personnel are not familiar with relevant regulations, nor are they aware of any developments in this sphere. Sadly, the training institutes have discontinued their workshops because organisations don't send participants anymore. As a consequence, when confronted with issues relating to the application or interpretation of labour laws, human resource officials are clueless about the le­­galities of negotiating for a suitable settlement or finding solutions to the points of contention. Referring to laws and clauses is a challenge for them. For instance, there are three different statutes on the subject of wages. One is the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, which primarily defines the components of payments made by an employer to employees to constitute 'wages' and regulates remunerations. In addition, it permits certain deductions from the salary of an employee as well as ensures that the employees are not unfairly deprived of their earnings. The other two enactments are the Minimum Wages Ordinance, 1961, which sets the minimum wage for all categories of employees, and the Unskilled Workers Minimum Wages Ordinance, 1969, for unskilled workers. Hence, to overcome the learning gaps mentioned above, human resource departments must ensure that their personnel acquire at least basic knowledge of the more prominent labour laws for harmony and justice in the workplace. The writer is a consultant in human resources at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2025