LAHORE: The provincial government is going to launch Punjab Mazdoor Card (PMC) for the welfare of over one million labourers working against minimum wages in November.

The Punjab Employees Social Security Institution (PESSI) plans to organise the launching ceremony of the PMC next month. The government is registering the labourers working against minimum wages to provide them ATM-based debit card and it will provide benefits such as concession of five to 30 per cent at more than 130 outlets (grocery, clothing etc.) to raise minimum wages close to the living wages.

The government also pledges to give other benefits including student scholarships, maternity allowance, marriage and death grants, sickness benefits, disability pension and unemployment allowance through the PMC.

PESSI Commissioner Syed Bilal Haider told Dawn that for the first time bank accounts of more than one million workers would be opened through a click with the help of the Bank of Punjab. “The card will also ensure and monitor the minimum wages for workers.”

He said a self-registration mobile application was also launched for domestic workers and more that 31,000 people had been registered. “As the government had passed the Punjab Domestic Workers Act 2019, a committee was constituted to devise regulations,” he said.

He said after the success of Rehmat-ul-Alameen Institute of Cardiology, the Hospital Management Information System would be implemented in all social security hospitals across Punjab in a short span of two years. “The supply of medicines and installation of modern equipment in social security hospitals and dispensaries is being ensured,” he said.

He said the ongoing development projects in hospitals and offices were being completed in record time and doctors and staff recruited through the Punjab Public Service Commission to meet the shortage.

Mr Haider said the social security payment system was switched from manual to online to curb corruption and the businesses that pay social security contributions through electronic bank channels had been increased from four per cent in 2018 to 99.8 per cent in 2021. “A relief of Rs5.5 billion was provided to businesses under Amnesty Scheme by waving fine on arrears,” he said.

He said seven new hospitals and dispensaries were established for workers and their families in DG Khan, Kasur, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan, Taunsa and Lahore. “A cancer block at Taunsa, a cardiology block at Multan and a mother and children block at Lahore will be set up to expand the healthcare infrastructure,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2021