Lawmakers demand legal protection for mine workers via EOBI registration

Islamabad witnessed a gathering of lawmakers at the National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development on Wednesday, September 10th, 2026. The committee members were resolute in their demand for a direct link between mine leases and workers' EOBI registration. This linkage aimed to ensure legal safeguards and compensation for mine workers in case of accidents, as conveyed by Syed Rafiullah, the chair of the meeting.

The lawmakers expressed deep concern over the frequent mine accidents that have claimed the lives of numerous low-income miners. They urged mine managers to prioritize the safety and welfare of their workers. As a first step, they proposed that workers' registration with the Employees' Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) should be a prerequisite for obtaining a mine lease. Furthermore, they advocated for quarterly reporting by lease holders to the provincial labour and mines departments.

The committee also suggested extending the benefits of the Workers Welfare Fund to unregistered workers in the event of any incident. They recommended that the finance division should place the funds of the Workers Welfare Fund in interest-bearing accounts, allowing the returns to be utilized for the welfare of the workers. However, the committee decided to postpone discussions on the Employees' Old-Age Benefits (Amendment) Bill, 2026, until their next meeting.

They expressed a desire to evaluate the issue of higher contribution rates in light of the new amendments.