Minority
Sanitation Justice and the Rights of Pakistan’s Sewage Workers
Sewage Workers
PILAP has highlighted the systemic exploitation and hazardous working conditions faced by sanitation workers in Pakistan.
These workers are often denied basic legal protections, including the mandatory minimum wage, social security benefits, formal employment contracts, and scheduled time off. A major concern is the absence of proper occupational safety equipment, which has led to preventable deaths during the manual cleaning of sewerage systems.
In response, PILAP has used Right to Information requests and engagement with relevant government authorities to seek transparency, accountability, and enforcement of existing labour protections. The initiative calls for the implementation of proper safety protocols, fair compensation, and formal recognition of sanitation workers’ rights.
Through this advocacy, PILAP aims to address employer negligence, improve working conditions, and secure basic labour rights for one of Pakistan’s most marginalized workforces