Evolution and Challenges of Labor Laws in Pakistan: A Post-18th Amendment Perspective

Labor laws in Pakistan constitute a crucial legal framework that regulates the relationship between employer and employee to bring about respect for employee rights and fair treatment of employees, which includes making sure that they work in conditions that meet minimum safety and health standards. These laws are based on constitutional guarantees and also seek, through these laws, to achieve social justice, protection for workers, economic stability and paying workers fairly for their work. There are many statutes governing labor relations in Pakistan which include, but are not limited to, the Factories Act of 1934, the Industrial and Commercial Employment Ordinance of 1968, and the Employees' Old-Age Benefits Act of 1976. With the 18th Constitutional Amendment, "pending responsibilities" of federal labor matters were transferred from the federal level to the provincial level, and provinces in Pakistan have been implementing labor laws differently. In this article, we will discuss the evolution of labor law in Pakistan, the key provisions governing labor law in Pakistan, and current challenges regarding labor law in Pakistan.