Beyond Compliance: Harnessing HRM to Champion Decent Work and Economic Growth in Pakistan

The aim of this research paper was to examine the role of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices in promoting decent work and contributing towards economic growth in Pakistan. Rather than a compliance-based approach, the study investigated how strategic human resource management efforts impacted on employee well-being, productivity and innovation that influenced organizational performance as well as national economic indicators. Mixed methods referred to a strategy employed for this study, which involved both quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews conducted among various HR practitioners and employees across different industries within the country. On progressive human resources strategies such as equitable pay, skills training and development and voice at work, there is a positive relationship with better employment conditions improved job satisfaction level, worker’s commitment. To add salt to injury enterprises who have all rounded human resource management system record high levels of labor productivity decreased rate of employee turnover as well as increased creativity which contributes to economic growth. Findings from this study illustrates how it is important to change the approach of HRM in Pakistan from merely maintaining compliance with laws to being proactive driver of good jobs and sustainable economy.