The latest

FLA urges Punjab Minimum Wages Board to announce revised minimum wage rates 

Issues Advocacy Fair Compensation

In a letter to the Chairperson and Members of the Punjab Minimum Wages Board and the Secretary of the Labor & Human Resources Department of the Government of Punjab, the Fair Labor Association (FLA) urged the Punjab Minimum Wages Board and the Labor & Human Resources Department to announce revised minimum wage rates across all relevant skill categories as soon as possible and to communicate a clear timeline for their implementation.

We also urged the authorities to establish a clear and timely process for paying any resulting wage arrears, including to workers who have since left their employment, and to ensure that all eligible workers receive the wages and related benefits to which they are legally entitled. 

The letter reads in part, “Punjab accounts for approximately 58% of the country’s employed population, representing nearly 45 million workers, including around 18 million wage employees directly covered by the minimum wage, and is a major hub for export-oriented industries, particularly textiles and garments. Under the current economic circumstances, an increase in the minimum wage carries significant importance for the livelihoods and financial security of millions of workers across Punjab and their households. 

“The consequences of continued delays extend beyond the immediate financial strain on workers. If revised rates are applied retrospectively, employers may need to calculate and pay wage arrears for previous months, recalculate overtime payments and other wage-related entitlements based on the revised rates, and identify and compensate workers who have since left their employment. These retrospective adjustments can be administratively burdensome and may create additional difficulties for former workers seeking to recover amounts owed to them. A timely announcement would help minimize these complications, facilitate effective implementation, and reduce the risk that workers face unnecessary obstacles in receiving their full legal entitlements.”

Read the full letter.

More FLA News