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The continued delay in implementing the Sindh Women Agriculture Workers Act, 2019, has left millions of rural women in Pakistan without the protections promised under the law.
A seminar held in Mirpurkhas district by the Hari Welfare Association (HWA) highlighted the persistent neglect of female agricultural workers, who remain excluded from even the most basic benefits envisioned in the legislation, as reported by The Express Tribune. According to The Express Tribune, speaking at the event, HWA President Akram Ali Khaskheli said nearly 15 million women across Sindh's rural belt are engaged in agriculture, livestock, and fisheries but continue to work without legal safeguards or recognition. He stated that these women are deprived of fair wages, healthcare access, and educational opportunities, despite their significant contribution to the rural economy. Khaskheli further pointed out that women labourers typically earn between Pakistani Rs 500 and Rs 700 per day, often working beyond eight hours in conditions that expose them to serious health risks. Many are involved in labour-intensive tasks such as cotton picking, chilli harvesting, date-processing, banana farming, and wheat cultivation, yet their work remains undervalued and largely invisible. Under the 2019 law, women agricultural workers are entitled to formal employment contracts, equal wages, 120 days of paid maternity leave, and paid sick leave. The legislation also guarantees their right to unionise and mandates the Sindh Labour and Human Resource Department to register them. Additionally, it provides safeguards against workplace harassment, abuse, and gender-based discrimination, as cited by The Express Tribune. However, speakers at the seminar criticised the authorities for failing to translate these legal provisions into action. Khaskheli stated that the law exists only on paper, with no meaningful implementation on the ground. Echoing concerns, Mirpurkhas Deputy Mayor Sumera Baloch maintained that government efforts are underway to empower women, though activists argue that tangible progress remains absent, as reported by The Express Tribune. (ANI)
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