ISLAMABAD, Sep 17 (APP):The National Assembly Standing Committee on Government Assurances on Thursday directed the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination to ensure enforcement of minimum wages for paramedical staff employed in private hospitals and other health establishments in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) through the available legal framework. The Committee expressed serious concern over reports of non-payment of minimum wages to paramedical staff working in private hospitals and …
NA body seeks enforcement of minimum wages
ISLAMABAD, Sep 17 (APP):The National Assembly Standing Committee on Government Assurances on Thursday directed the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination to ensure enforcement of minimum wages for paramedical staff employed in private hospitals and other health establishments in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) through the available legal framework.
The Committee expressed serious concern over reports of non-payment of minimum wages to paramedical staff working in private hospitals and other health establishments.
The committee met under the chairpersonship of Ms. Nuzhat Sadiq, Member National Assembly (MNA), here at Parliament House, and discussed an assurance given on the floor of the House by the Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination in response to a starred question regarding wages paid to paramedical staff in private hospitals in Islamabad.
The Ministry of National Health Services contended that the matter did not fall within the purview of the Ministry or the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA), and that it came under the jurisdiction of the ICT Labour Welfare Department.
The ICT Labour Welfare Department apprised the Committee that it was responsible for implementing the Minimum Wages Ordinance and the West Pakistan Shops and Establishments Ordinance to the extent of Islamabad.
However, under the existing legal framework, there were no clear enabling provisions for prescribing and enforcing minimum wages specifically for paramedics employed in private hospitals.
The department further informed the Committee that establishments engaged in the treatment or care of sick and infirm persons were excluded from the operation of both the laws.
A representative of the Ministry of National Health Services apprised the Committee that the process of registration of hospitals and health establishments by the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority would begin within a week, after which the issue of payment of minimum wages could be addressed accordingly.
The Committee also took up an assurance regarding payment of boarding and lodging charges by members of the Pakistan Hockey Squad participating in the Asian Champions Trophy 2024 from their own pockets. It asked the Ministry and the Pakistan Sports Board to ensure that sports federations extended all-out support to players representing Pakistan.
The Committee was informed that the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) and the Pakistan Sports Board regularly provide grants to sports federations to facilitate participation of Pakistani teams in international sports competitions.
In the instant case, the Ministry and the Pakistan Sports Board had provided grants of Rs 59 million and Rs 37 million, respectively, to the Pakistan Hockey Federation during the financial year 2023-24. In addition to the collective amount of Rs 96 million, the Ministry provided Rs 23 million specifically to cover participation expenses for the Asian Champions Trophy 2024.
The Secretary IPC contended that, in view of the financial resources provided, the issue of payment of boarding and lodging charges by players did not arise and termed the media reports as ill-founded and lacking merit. The Committee, after hearing the reply, disposed of the assurance.
The Committee also considered an assurance regarding the poor condition of roads in rural areas of Islamabad, particularly Jagiot Road and Sikander-e-Azam Road, and expressed concern over the non-completion of rehabilitation and construction work on the two roads.
The Committee observed that work on the roads had been initiated in 2023 but remained incomplete. It also expressed displeasure over the absence of the Chairman or any senior officer of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) from the meeting.
The Committee decided to defer further discussion on the matter until its next meeting.
The meeting was attended by MNAs Syed Javed Ali Shah Jillani, Shagufta Jumani, Shahida Rehmani, Hameed Hussain, Sofia Saeed Shah through Zoom, Natasha Daultana, Muniba Iqbal and Asiya Ishaq Siddique, besides secretaries of the concerned ministries and senior officials of the relevant departments.
