A Citizen Dialogue held in Sanghar has brought to light severe labor rights violations and a lack of corporate accountability in the district, a major center for cotton production and resource extraction. The Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) organized the event to address critical issues related to Business and Human Rights (BHR).
SHRC Chairperson Mr. Iqbal Detho underscored the commission”s mandate to protect human rights and incorporate BHR principles, aligning with Pakistan’s international obligations. He highlighted the importance of local legal structures and inter-agency collaboration to protect vulnerable employees.
Stakeholders, including labor unions, civil society organizations, and government representatives, voiced serious apprehensions about inadequate working environments, salary discrepancies, and insufficient worker protections, particularly for women in agriculture and home-based employment.
FES representative Mr. Abdullah Dayo emphasized the necessity for ethical supply chains and legally sound employment agreements. He stressed the importance of ensuring minimum salaries, employee social security registration (EOBI), and independent oversight to maintain decent working conditions in Sanghar.
District officials, including Deputy Commissioner Ms. Sara Javed and SSP Mr. Abid Hussain, expressed their support for rights-based initiatives. Mr. Hussain also recognized the SHRC”s contribution to addressing wider human rights issues, such as forced religious conversions and underage marriages.
Labor representatives from Sinjhoro detailed issues like unchanging wages, the absence of inflation-adjusted benefits, and the lack of health coverage. Ms. Kausar Nisa from the Sindh Home-Based Workers Federation pointed out gender-based violence within the informal work sector. Civil society and media attendees revealed extensive disregard for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) mandates.
The dialogue concluded with a demand for improved enforcement of CSR guidelines under the Companies Act of 2017, increased support from the labor department, and synchronization of district regulations with national and global due diligence benchmarks. Participants emphasized that inclusive growth, openness, and the safeguarding of fundamental rights are vital for sustainable advancement in Pakistan.