Labour Dept challans 100 shops

MULTAN: The Labour Department challaned about 100 shops on the charge of violating the minimum wages act. The Punjab government has recommended Rs 17,500 per month (Rs 673.08/day) as minimum salary for labourers. However, the shopkeepers were found paying less salaries to their workers, informed Labour Department Director Rana Jamshaid Farooq while talking to the agency here on Sunday. He informed that Labour Department Secretary Sara Akram issued instructions for taking strict action against violation of the labourers wages act. The government was committed to ensure implementation on provision of recommended salaries, he added. During the last week, the labour inspectors checked nearly 700 shopkeepers, of which, about 100 shops were found violating the minimum salary limit of Rs 17,500. The Labour Department had submitted their challans to the courts concerned. To a question about fine amount, he informed that shopkeepers would be fined Rs 10,000 each. About raids, the Labour Department director observed that seven labour inspectors conducted raids in Multan, Vehari, Lodhran, Khanewal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh and some other cities of south Punjab. Nobody would be allowed to exploit workers especially in terms of wages, he added.