Thousands of garment workers across Pakistan are battling against forced layoffs and months of unpaid salaries, as the deepening economic crisis caused by COVID-19 hits workers’ ability to support their families in the world’s fifth most populous country. The textile and apparel industry is

Nearly 9 per cent of Pakistan’s GDP – and almost 70 per cent of the country’s exports – comes from the industry. The pandemic has wreaked havoc on textile exports, which are mostly sent to the US, China, the UK and Germany.

Factory production has slowed dramatically across the country, with global fashion brands reducing or eliminating orders. This has precipitated a devastating crisis for Pakistani suppliers, who are passing the impact along to those least able to weather it: labourers living on meagre wages, campaigners say. In Lahore, hundreds of garment workers were reported to have organised a strike last week against the non-payment of salaries at multiple factories and activists claim factory owners are treating workers as expendable commodities.

Last year, Human Rights Watch censured Pakistan’s garment factories for rampant labour violations, including failing to pay the minimum wage, forcing hours of unpaid overtime, and neglecting to provide medical leave or adequate breaks to workers.