PESHAWAR: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has opposed any further increase in the minimum wage in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa without taking into account the province’s industrial growth and economic capacity.
The demand was made by SCCI President Malik Imran Ishaq on Friday during a meeting with Adviser to the Governor on Labour, Law and Interprovincial Coordination Aamir Javed, who visited the chamber along with Secretary Labour Abdul Basit and other officials.
Mr Ishaq said minimum wage fixation should reflect the prevailing economic conditions and industrial capacity of the province. Healso appreciated the provincial government’s efforts to introduce reforms aimed at improving transparency and the functioning of the Labour Department.
The chamber president highlighted several issues faced by industrialists, including alleged illegal occupation of Labour Colony, inadequate medical facilities in hospitals run by the Workers Welfare Board and the need for transparent representation of business organisations in the Workers Welfare Board and Employees Social Security Institution (ESSI).
He called for greater transparency in the allotment of Labour Colonyflats,tenderingandbidding processes and scholarships distri-bution. Mr Ishaq urged the government to reduce the non-development expenditure of the Labour Department and Workers Welfare Board and allocate more funds for workers’ scholarships. He also called for representation of women’s chambers in the Workers Welfare Board, ESSI and other provincialbodies.
The SCCI president further urged the provincial government to take up restrictions on wheat supplies from Punjab to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the federal government and resolve the issue on an urgent basis.
Responding to the concerns, Mr Javed acknowledged the business community’s contribution to theWorkers Welfare Board and ESSI andsaid that both male and female chambers would be given representation in the relevant boards.
He sought the chamber’s cooperation in addressing encroachments and illegal occupation in Labour Colony and assured that the issue of restrictions on wheat movement wouldbetakenupwiththegovernor and relevant federal authorities.
The adviser said an audit of schools run by the Workers Welfare Board and its scholarship programme was under way to improve transparency through institutional reforms. He also assured the business community that any decision regarding a further increase in the minimum wage would be taken in consultation with the chamber and other relevant stakeholders. Bureau Report