The Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment Pakistan has issued an important labour advisory for Pakistani workers employed overseas, highlighting their rights and legal requirements regarding probation periods, employment contracts and termination of employment.
According to the advisory, workers should familiarise themselves with the rules governing probation periods to understand their rights and obligations when starting a new job.
Under Article 37 of the relevant labour law, the probation period must be clearly specified in the employment contract. This ensures that workers know the duration of their probation when they begin their employment.
The advisory states that the maximum probation period for employees receiving monthly wages is three months. For workers paid under other wage arrangements, the maximum period is two months.
The law also prohibits employers from placing a worker on probation more than once for the same job. This provision aims to prevent the repeated use of probation periods in ways that could undermine workers’ legal rights.
The bureau further clarified that once an employee successfully completes the probation period, that time must be counted towards their total length of service, helping preserve their employment record and associated rights.
Regarding termination during probation, the advisory states that either the employer or the employee may terminate the employment contract if they determine that continuing the employment relationship is unsuitable, subject to the applicable legal requirements.
The advisory aims to help Pakistani workers better understand their employment rights and ensure they are aware of the legal protections available to them while working overseas.
