The NA committee urges ministry-linked organisations to ensure workers receive revised minimum wages immediately after federal government announcements and proposes raising compensation for workplace incidents to Rs3 million.
ISLAMABAD, November 3, 2026: A National Assembly committee has called for the effective implementation of revised minimum wages across all organisations and institutions operating under the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development.
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, chaired by Syed Rafiullah, expressed reservations over responses from the ministry and its attached departments regarding the implementation of earlier recommendations on minimum wages.
The committee recommended that all boards and organisations under the ministry introduce formal rules or an automatic mechanism to ensure workers receive revised minimum wages immediately after the federal government announces an increase.
During the meeting, the committee also reviewed the coal mine incident at Sorrange in Balochistan. Officials informed members that three Mines Department inspectors and two Labour Department officials had been suspended following the incident.
First Information Reports (FIRs) had been registered, while show-cause notices were issued to the companies concerned. Furthermore, 34 cheques had been handed over to the deputy commissioner for distribution among affected families.
The committee recommended that all provincial governments and Gilgit-Baltistan increase financial assistance for workers affected by workplace incidents to Rs3 million.
Meanwhile, the committee deferred three legislative proposals: the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Emigration (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
It also postponed its review of recommendations concerning the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment.
Additionally, the committee sought complete details of the investment portfolios and interest income of all departments under the ministry. It directed the Workers Welfare Fund to present details of every proposal submitted to its board in future meetings.
The meeting was attended by members of the National Assembly and senior officials from the ministry, EOBI, Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, Ministry of Law and Justice, and Balochistan’s Labour and Mines departments.