Strengthening Rights of Women Agricultural Workers in Sindh.
In compliance with the Sindh High Court’s order (C.P. No. D-6265 of 2024), the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) convened a key stakeholders’ meeting to review the draft rules of the Sindh Women Agricultural Workers Act, 2019. The meeting was chaired by SHRC Chairperson Mr. Iqbal Ahmed Detho and attended by petitioner Barrister Sara Malkani, Mr. Haris, Mr. Rejhu Mal (Law Officer, Law Department), representatives from the Labour and Human Resources Department, Mr. Naeem Mangi (Secretary, Sindh Minimum Wages Board), Mr. Akram Khaskhily (Hari Welfare Association) and Mr. Anwar Mahar (NARI Foundation).
Discussions focused on redefining the term “worker” to include women in agriculture, facilitating union formation, and ensuring inclusion of the agriculture sector in minimum wage notifications. Participants also emphasized the importance of coordinated registration mechanisms through BISP and local governments, aligning labor protections with social security particularly for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women clarifying employer-employee relationships and broadening the definition of agricultural worker. It was decided that SHRC would formally submit the proposed recommendations to the Labour and Law Departments for further action. Mr. Rejhu Mal assured participants that the suggestions would be incorporated into the revised draft.
