Wage theft of pvt security guards by Askari Bank

Mr. Waqar Ahmed Malik                                          17 January 2024

Chairman Askari Bank,

Chief Executive Officer,

Askari Bank,

Human Rights, legal, ethical and corporate violations of private security guards deployed at  Askari Bank branches and being paid Rs23,000 per month for 12 hours duty with no EOBI.

Being engaged in improving the plight of the downtrodden – those paid illegal wages or deprived of their legal benefits such as EOBI, we would like to bring to your kind notice the case of cruelty and exploitation of private security guards deployed at your bank branches through private security companies.

It is your responsibility as the principal employer, to ensure compliance of all laws for regular as well as contracted / 3^rd party workers, who work on full time basis at your bank premises.

We reproduce Pakistan’s wage laws below.

1. Security guards fall under semi skilled labour category. The minimum wage for security guards, in Sindh is Rs33280 per month based on 8 hours work per day and 4 holidays in a month. Thus the security guards performing 12 hour duty in Sindh are entitled to Rs66580 per month plus 4 holidays.
2. The minimum wage for security guards, in Punjab is Rs 33806 per month based on 8 hours work per day plus 4 holidays in a month.  Thus the security guards performing 12 hour duty in Punjab are entitled to Rs 67612 per month plus 4 holidays every month. In all cases they must be registered for EOBI.

Thus by paying Rs23,000 per month for 12 hours and not registering the security guards , you engage in wage theft, slavery, human rights and ethical violations -never expected from your esteemed organisation. All this could not be possible without the complicity of corrupt officials of Labour departments and EOBI and soft pedaling by NCHR.

We urge you to immediately ensure compliance of legal salary stated above and registration with EOBI and take this matter with the same immense seriousness that you give to your own multi-million monthly salary.

Sincerely,

Naeem Sadiq