Pakistan's forgotten workforce: A global supply chain built on exploitation
From textile mills in Faisalabad to construction sites in Karachi, millions of Pakistanis are trapped in a cycle of low wages, unsafe working conditions, and systemic neglect, fuelling global supply chains while earning little more than a survival.
While India positions itself as a digital powerhouse and South Africa strengthens its manufacturing sector through progressive labour reforms, Pakistan remains tethered to a system that relies on the chronic exploitation of its workers.
From textile mills in Faisalabad to construction sites in Karachi, millions of Pakistanis are trapped in a cycle of low wages, unsafe working conditions, and systemic neglect, fuelling global supply chains while earning little more than a survival.
This labour exploitation is not a domestic issue alone; it has far-reaching implications for global labour markets. Many of the goods manufactured in Pakistan — from garments and leather products to surgical instruments — end up in Western retail stores. But the workers behind these products are often paid less than the legal minimum wage, without contracts, benefits, or basic safety equipment.
Pakistan's economy relies heavily on its export sector, particularly textiles, which account for over 60% of total exports. Behind these figures lies a workforce often earning as little as $72 a month, far below the recommended living wage. Many are employed informally, with no legal recourse if injured, fired, or harassed.
Factories subcontract their work to smaller units to bypass labour regulations, creating a shadow economy where labour laws simply don't apply."Multinational brands continue to source from Pakistan not because it is efficient, but because it is cheap," says Amina Shah, a Lahore-based labour rights advocate.
"They benefit from a system where accountability is diluted and inspection regimes are weak."Pakistan's inability or unwillingness to enforce labour protections starkly contrasts with recent reforms in other Global South economies.
In India, for instance, the digitisation of labour contracts and increased scrutiny of employers has begun to curb exploitative practices, while South Africa's implementation of a national minimum wage and improved union protections has strengthened worker rights.
The gap is growing — and with it, Pakistan's vulnerability.
Not only are workers suffering, but the country is losing out on international contracts that increasingly require compliance with ethical sourcing standards. Pakistan's continued listing on the European Union's GSP+ trade scheme, which grants tariff-free access in exchange for human rights and labour compliance, is under scrutiny.
A future suspension could devastate exports."We're not just talking about poor working conditions — we're talking about modern slavery," said an EU trade observer who requested anonymity. "The world is watching."
Meanwhile, Pakistan's labour force remains voiceless. Unionisation is discouraged or outright banned in many industrial zones. The ''contract system" — where workers are hired through middlemen — absolves companies of responsibility, leaving workers unprotected and easily disposable.
As Pakistan navigates an uncertain economic future, it faces a stark choice: either reform and protect its labour force, or remain a source of cheap but ethically tainted goods in a world growing increasingly intolerant of exploitation.
For the millions of workers on the margins, reform is not just a policy matter — it's a question of survival.
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