National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis Defers Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Amendment Bill 2026; Expresses Outrage Over Failure to Pay Government-Notified Minimum Wage
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development has decided to delay the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Amendment Bill 2026, and has given tough directions on the immediate implementation of the government’s announced minimum wage.
Led by MNA Agha Rafiullah, the committee hearing revealed shocking truths that the minimum wage for the working class and paid employees of some institutions is yet to be paid as per the official notification of the government.
This is a summary of the key points of the Standing Committee Meeting and Deliberations.
Committee member Mehrine Bhutto noted that three months had passed since the announcement of the minimum wage increase in August, and it was indeed disappointing that the wage rates have not been revised yet, considering the rising inflation rates.
While questioning the Board of Directors of Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) about why the government mandated minimum wage for OPF employees was not being given, officials explained that the Bureau had to get approval from its Board of Directors and that OPF wasn’t funded by the government. The Chairman, however, rejected this position and asked why the authorities are not doing something to help the ordinary workers with their financial difficulties, rather than leave them to wait for the annual Board meeting.
The committee was also apprised that Malaysia has temporarily suspended manpower deployments as it would prefer that recruitment processes are conducted directly between the states.