PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday said that the Human Rights Watch had urged the federal and provincial governments to follow the policy adopted by Sindh for protecting the workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

He said this while citing a report published by the international rights organisation in his tweet.

https://twitter.com/BBhuttoZardari/status/1245610278198231042

The Human Rights Watch in its report “Pakistan: Workers Face Health, Economic Risks” had urged that the government take urgent steps to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19 on its most vulnerable workers.

“Social distancing, quarantines, and the closure of businesses will have enormous economic consequences for garment and textile workers, domestic workers, home-based workers, and other workers in low-income households,” it added.

According to the Human Rights Watch, “The Pakistan government should adopt measures protecting workers affected by COVID-19 from suffering loss of income that would push them further into poverty and deter them from self-isolating to contain the spread of the virus.”

“The Pakistan government should take measures so that the loss of livelihood and income doesn’t compound the threats workers face to their health,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “The economically marginalized are among the most vulnerable groups affected by COVID-19, and the government should urgently find ways to protect them.”

“Global supply chains in numerous sectors, especially the garment and textile industry, have already been disrupted, with global clothing brands cancelling orders even for products already manufactured or in the process of being produced. This has exacerbated factory closures and layoffs. There is a risk that hundreds of thousands of workers in jobs linked to the global economy will be forced into part-time work for less income or lose their jobs,” the report feared.

However, it praised the Sindh government, saying it had issued directives prohibiting employers from laying off workers during the lockdown period, ensuring payment of salaries, and establishing an emergency fund to address the negative economic consequences of COVID-19.

“The Sindh government has also set up a tripartite mechanism with representatives of employers, workers, and government to deal with salary complaints.”

It noted that the federal and Punjab governments had announced economic packages for businesses and workers and monthly payments of Rs3,000 for workers who lose their jobs, which “is significantly lower, though, than the minimum wage in any province and is likely to be inadequate.”

“The federal government and other provincial governments should consider other measures, including the Sindh government’s approach,” the Human Rights Watch said.