By Asim Shahzad
LAHORE: October 6, 2025: In its latest Legislation Watch Cell report, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has warned that the proposed Punjab Labour Code (PLC) 2025, currently under review by a provincial assembly standing committee, could weaken existing protections for workers instead of strengthening them.
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Authored by lawyer Azwar Shakeel and academic Dr Adnan Sattar, the report observes that while the PLC seeks to consolidate existing labour laws, it fails to ensure adequate safeguards for workers’ rights. Trade unions and labour rights activists have voiced concern that the code, in its present form, could roll back hard-won labour protections.
The HRCP report cautions that the PLC might undermine unionization and collective bargaining, citing onerous registration requirements and tighter restrictions on strikes. It also questions the PLC’s alignment with International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, including those guaranteeing freedom of association, protection against forced and child labour, and equality at work.
The authors attribute these shortcomings to the lack of meaningful consultation with workers and trade unions, despite the ILO’s emphasis on tripartite dialogue in any labour law reform process.
Among its key recommendations, the HRCP urges the government to:
• Remove barriers to union registration and collective bargaining to ensure genuine worker representation.
• Provide explicit safeguards against discrimination and unfair dismissal, covering both contract and informal sector workers.
• Strengthen workplace safety inspection mechanisms with clear accountability and tougher penalties for violations.
• Ensure inclusive, tripartite consultations so that workers’ voices are fully represented in the lawmaking process.
The report concludes that without these critical changes, the Punjab Labour Code 2025 risks turning back the clock on labour rights in Pakistan.
