RECENTLY, the newly elected prime minister announced a six-day work week in public offices, which is a positive decision aimed at the country’s economic development. The decision is being criticised by majority of employees because they now have to work an extra day. In fact, due to the worsening economic situation, the nation is in a dire need of eight-hour work per day and six-day work week. There is no denying the fact that there is no work culture in the country, leave alone willingness for hard work. Despite the worst economic crisis and high inflation, we are among the lowest working nations in the region.

During the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, workers used to work 16-18 hours a day in factories and other places. When the Chicago labour movement emerged on May 1, 1886, the eight-hour day quickly became its central demand. Exhausted by 12-14 hours a day of work, six days a week, workers throughout the city and state got organised to secure a law limiting the workday to eight hours.

Unfortunately, the concept of standard working hours of eight-hour work per day in Pakistan is disappearing with time. However, six days a week and eight hours a day are common elements around the world, and overtime is paid to those putting in extra work.

The regulation of working time is one of the oldest concerns of labour legislation. Already in the early 19th century, it was recognised that working excessive hours posed a danger to workers’ health and affected their family life.

The first International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention, adopted on Oct 9, 1919, was for limited hours of work and provided for adequate rest periods for workers. The only tripartite United Nations agency since 1919, the ILO brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 member states to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all men and women.

The ILO has passed Convention No. 1 in 1919 for Hours of Work for Industry Convention, and Hours of Work for Commerce and Offices through Convention No. 30 on June 10, 1930. These two conventions set the general standard at 48 regular hours of work per week, with a maximum of eight hours per day.

In Pakistan, despite the presence of effective different labour laws in the country and provinces for the protection and care of employees’ and workers’ rights, hundreds of thousands of private security guards, including corporate sector employees, petrol pump employees, mineworkers and other employees are being forced to work for more than eight hours and seven days a week without any weekly holiday and overtime. They are exploited to the extent that they have to put up with the worst forms of mental, physical and financial torture.

This is akin to forced labour and modern-day slavery. These forced and helpless employees and workers are not paid for their extra work and fringe benefits, and in case of resistance and protest, they are fired without giving them any notice that is required under the law.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the ILO estimated that globally one in 10 workers was exposed to working 55 or more hours per week, and about 745,000 persons died as a result of having a heart disease or a stroke attributable to having worked these long hours, making exposure to long working hours the occupational risk factor with the largest disease burden.

It is time we followed guidelines by the international organisations and have six-day working week with eight-hour work per day. Any grumble in this regard is misplaced.

Israr Ayoubi
Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2022