KARACHI: Employers Federation of Pakistan (EFP) president Ismail Suttur has expressed deep concern over minimum wage increase to Rs25,000 by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

While requesting the PM to withdraw this increase, he said the businesses are still under a recovery phase from the severe impact of Covid-19 and not in a position to comply with the administrative order.

In a statement, EFP office-bearers said the minimum wage board in provinces is the legal institution to decide the wage keeping in view inflation and other economic factors. Any increase in wage at this stage without following the mechanism provided in the law will not only be against the legal practice and also not acceptable. This will also increase the cost of production and erode the competitiveness of exporting industries.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2022