Habibullah Umarzai, Media Coordinator of the All Government Employees Confederation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has raised concerns over the non-implementation of the minimum wage of 36,000 rupees in the province. He highlighted that workers and employees in private schools, security guard companies, factories, and other institutions are being exploited, with their rights being ignored.
Speaking at an event to congratulate the newly elected cabinet of the Abbottabad Press Club and the Union of Journalists, Umarzai emphasized that speaking truth to power in the face of oppressive rulers is the hallmark of courageous journalists. He revealed that he had met with the Secretary of Labor to address these issues and urged Provincial Labor Minister Fazal Shakoor to take immediate notice of the situation.
Umarzai pointed out that the notification for the minimum wage, issued on May 1, 2024, has not been enforced due to the negligence of Labor Secretary Mian Adil Iqbal and Director Irfan. This failure has left workers and employees struggling to cope with the challenges of rising inflation.
The event was attended by prominent figures, including President Abbottabad Press Club Sardar Naveed Alam, former president Muhammad Aamir Shehzad Jadon, Assistant Secretary Dildar Ahmed Sati, and Tehreek-e-Suba Hazara leader Sardar Muhammad Ramadan.
Umarzai praised the Abbottabad Press Club for consistently raising its voice to highlight public issues and appealed to the media to actively support the cause of laborers. In response, Sardar Naveed Alam, President of the Abbottabad Press Club, assured full cooperation from the media in addressing these pressing concerns.
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