The Punjab government’s proposed minimum pay of Rs 40,000 has been vehemently rejected by powerloom workers in Faisalabad, who claim it is anti-worker and insufficient.
Workers in the city’s textile center were incensed by the announcement, which was included in the provincial budget for the next fiscal year.
Many workers protested what they called a “anti-worker budget” by screaming slogans as they left their jobs and marched to the streets. Protesters demanded fair salaries that reflect inflation and the rising cost of living during demonstrations that took place in a number of industrial locations.
Labor groups told reporters that Rs 40,000 is insufficient to cover working families’ basic expenses and charged the government with disregarding the predicament of daily wage earners.
