A consultative dialogue was organized by the Hari Welfare Association in collaboration with the Sindh Human Rights Commission to discuss the state of peasants and labour rights in Sindh. Lawyers, farmers, labour leaders, social activists highlighted the worst condition of peasants and rural workers in Sindh, they urged federal and provincial governments to ensure effective implementation of labour laws.

Iqbal Ahmed Detho, Chairperson Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) stated that the condition of peasants’ and labour rights in Sindh is far from satisfactory. Despite extensive legislation in Sindh, the lack of implementation has left labourers and peasants deprived of their rights.

He emphasized that the Sindh Tenancy Act has yet to be enforced, causing peasants to miss out on their legal entitlements. He shared that the Commission has recommended the Sindh government amend the Tenancy Act to meet current needs and ensure its immediate implementation. He also highlighted the dire need to enforce the law against bonded labour.

Following the 2022 floods, agricultural workers and peasants have been burdened with debt, pushing them into bonded labour or even suicide. He stressed the urgent activation of District Vigilance Committees across all districts to address the increasing issue of bonded labour.

He further said that the laws benefit the upper class, industrialists, and landlords while peasants and labourers see no advantages. Landless farmers and agricultural workers receive no subsidies, many labourers still do not receive the minimum wage. Farmers and agricultural workers lack any form of social protection, in addition to landlords, multinational companies are also exploiting farmers economically.

Akram Ali Khaskheli, President Hari Welfare Association (HWA), described the condition of peasants and labourers’ rights in Sindh as extremely concerning. Due to the lack of registration in revenue records, peasants are unable to claim their tenancy right, he said. Khaskheli stated that the powerful feudal system in Sindh continued to oppress peasants and rural workers, and landlords’ dominance in assemblies had blocked any legislative protection for peasants’ rights.

He said: “Despite 74 years since the Sindh Tenancy Act of 1950, it has not been implemented. The Sindh High Court’s Circuit Bench Hyderabad issued a historic verdict to implement and amend the Act. But unfortunately, the Sindh government challenged this verdict in the Supreme Court, showing its alignment with landlords over peasants and rural workers.”

Legal expert Muhammad Ali Abbasi said that peasants in rural Sindh lacked protection. He said: “If they raise their voices or seek legal action to secure their rights, they face forced eviction and harassment. Due to their poverty, peasants cannot afford lawyers, and preventing their cases from being filed.” Abbasi suggested establishing district-level tenancy tribunals and providing free legal assistance to peasants through government initiatives.

Participants urged that the Sindh government should withdraw its appeal from the Supreme Court against the High Court’s historic verdict on the Sindh Tenancy Act and, based on that decision, amend the Act, register peasants in form six immediately.

They also demanded implementation of the Sindh Minimum Wages Act and the Sindh Women Agriculture Act 2019 immediately. They said that women farmers should be provided with social security and the Benazir Cards besides fully enforcing the Sindh Bonded Labor System Abolition Act 2015 and activating District Vigilance Committees with proper funding to eliminate bonded labor.

Enforce laws against child marriages and implement the Sindh Prohibition of Employment of Children Act 2017 to end child labour. They demanded reserved seats for peasants and workers in parliament, saying the current system did not allow them representation at the decision-making forums. They also demanded true land reforms.

Fida Hussain Baloch, Ghulam Murtaza Samoon, Lal Chand, Advocate Santosh Kumar, Yaseen Ali Khaskheli, Advocate Farooq Khaskheli, Abdullah Ghumro, Zeenat-un-Nisa from the Women Development Department, and others also addressed the event. They called for immediate reforms to protect farmers’ rights and improve the state of human rights in Sindh.