Relief for workers as Punjab govt raises minimum wage to Rs32,000 per month

The Punjab government has announced an increase in the minimum wage for unskilled workers from Rs25,000 to Rs32,000 per month, providing some relief to workers during a period of skyrocketing inflation.

This increase of Rs7,000 was made official through a notification issued by the interim government on Thursday. It is worth noting that in April of last year, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif announced a minimum wage increase for government employees to Rs25,000 and a 10 per cent increase in civil and military pensions for retired employees.

Following this announcement, the Punjab government set the minimum wage at Rs25,000. On January 31, 2023, Asif Ali Zardari, the former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairperson, proposed to the coalition government that the minimum wage should be raised to Rs35,000.

Zardari emphasised that the government should take responsibility for providing relief to workers and take far-reaching measures to address the problems faced by the masses.