In short

  • Sindh's notified minimum wage for a skilled worker in 2025–26 is around PKR 49,628 a month.
  • Private hospitals, clinics and NGOs count as commercial establishments and are covered.
  • Labelling a formal role an “internship” does not remove the legal minimum.
  • Underpaying trained care workers is a direct route to burnout and attrition.

Burnout during work is a common thing, but we have to ask why and how it happens. I recently saw a post from a mental health firm offering only PKR 25,000 for a psychologist with two years of experience in addiction care. Like, seriously? Is it even worth wasting our money on degrees?

As a psychology learner, this hurts. I assume this happens in other fields as well, but based on this example, it reminds me of one of my own experiences. For my first pay, I worked 12-hour shifts for only PKR 25,000. I have no personal regrets, because it was good learning and I wasn't struggling financially. But what about those who really need a job to support themselves or their families?

What the government says

Now, take a look at what the government says about this. According to the latest notification for the 2025–2026 fiscal year, the minimum wage for a skilled worker in Sindh has been set at approximately PKR 49,628 per month.

Moreover, the law mandates that no industrial or commercial establishment, which includes private hospitals, clinics and NGOs, can pay a worker less than the notified rate for their skill category.

Which specific laws state this?

There are three main legal instruments that define and protect your initial salary limits:

Sindh Minimum Wages Act, 2015
This is the primary law. Section 6 gives the government the power to declare minimum wage rates that employers must follow.
Minimum Wages Ordinance, 1961
This defines a “worker” as anyone performing skilled, unskilled, intellectual or clerical work.
The Annual Minimum Wage Notification (2025–26)
Issued by the Labour & Human Resources Department, Government of Sindh. This explicitly lists the PKR 49,628 rate for skilled professionals.

A call to action for students

As a psychology student, I think we all should take a step for this. I have seen professionals spending millions on their Masters and MPhil degrees, only to earn 25k? Seriously?

In the next part, we will discuss this further. However, anyone can put their thoughts on it now. What do you think?

Written by Shaista Tariq, founder of MindCare Services®. Originally published on LinkedIn. read the original post ↗