1. Adopt a National Living Wage Framework

·       Shift from minimum wage to living wage standards that reflect the real cost of living across Pakistan.

·       Develop city- and region-specific wage benchmarks to address variations in living expenses.

2. Integrate the Informal Sector

·       Bring informal laborers (especially in mines, agriculture, and daily wage sectors) under formal wage protection systems.

·       Introduce social protection and insurance mechanisms for informal workers.

3. Strengthen Public-Private Collaboration

·       Encourage cooperation between government institutions and corporate sectors (e.g., Nestlé, Unilever) to implement living wage policies.

·       Incentivise private firms that adopt living wage standards through tax relief or recognition programmes.

4. Enhance Accountability and Local Monitoring

·       Establish District Vigilant Committees to ensure fair wage implementation and monitor labour exploitation.

·       Ensure transparency in wage disbursement through digital payment systems and regular audits.

5. Address Inflation and Cost of Living Pressures

·       Introduce inflation-indexed wage adjustments to counter rising food and living costs (noted at 32%).

·       Strengthen coordination with the Prime Minister’s Youth Initiatives to enhance employment opportunities and income generation.

6. Grounded Policy Design and Research

·       Develop wage policies based on ground realities through data-driven research.

·       Encourage think tanks and research bodies like the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) to conduct regular studies on living wage impacts.