Karachi, July 5, 2025 – In a significant move to uplift the standard of living of laborers, the Sindh government has officially notified the implementation of new minimum wage rates, setting the monthly wage at Rs40,000 for unskilled adult and adolescent workers. This decision aims to ensure fair compensation and improve labor conditions across the province.
The Sindh government issued this notification on July 2, 2025, under the Sindh Minimum Wages Act, 2015, which will formally come into effect following a 14-day period reserved for receiving and incorporating feedback from relevant stakeholders, including industrial and commercial entities.
According to the notification, the new minimum wage rates will be applicable across all types of industrial, commercial, and other establishments operating in Sindh, whether registered or unregistered. The breakdown of the new wage structure is as follows: Rs40,000 per month, Rs1,538 per day, and Rs192 per hour. These revised rates are to be uniformly applied throughout the province, ensuring that no worker receives less than the prescribed amount, regardless of the employer’s registration status or location within Sindh.
Employers have been directed to pay wages strictly through formal banking channels, such as cross cheques or bank transfers, in accordance with the Payment of Wages Act, 2015. This regulation is aimed at promoting transparency and curbing wage exploitation or underreporting.
Importantly, the notification affirms gender equality in compensation. Female workers must receive the same minimum wage as male workers for performing the same category of work. Furthermore, working hours, overtime, and conditions for weekly rest or paid holidays are to be governed under the Sindh Factories Act, 2015 and other related labor laws.
The directive clarifies that the new minimum wage will apply to all unskilled workers. Additionally, no skilled or semi-skilled worker in any sector is to be paid less than this base minimum wage. Employers must also ensure that workers paid by piece rate earn the equivalent of Rs192 per hour, which guarantees a minimum income regardless of how work is structured.
The government has emphasized that these minimum wage levels should not be interpreted as maximum limits. Employers are free to pay higher wages based on experience, living costs, or special circumstances. Existing salaries above the new minimum must not be reduced, preserving the rights of workers already earning higher wages.
This latest wage policy underscores Sindh’s commitment to labor welfare and income equity amid rising inflation and living costs.