Islamic Labour Code Launched by Centre for Labour Research on International Labour Day

Islamabad — In a landmark initiative marking International Labour Day, the Centre for Labour Research (CLR) unveiled the Islamic Labour Code during a formal ceremony at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad. The Code, co-authored by labour law experts Iftikhar Ahmad and Asghar Jameel, is a pioneering document aimed at integrating Islamic teachings into contemporary labour practices.

Presented in both English and Urdu, the Islamic Labour Code is grounded in Qur’anic principles and the Prophetic Sunnah, structured around four key pillars of decent work: employment creation, social protection, rights at work, and social dialogue. The Code is intended to serve as a legislative blueprint for Muslim-majority countries and as a practical guide for governments, corporations, and civil society organizations.

The launch event was attended by legal scholars, labour leaders, and government officials. CLR founder Iftikhar Ahmad highlighted the global relevance of the Code, noting that nearly 800 million workers reside in Muslim countries. He also discussed CLR’s collaboration with the WageIndicator Foundation (Netherlands) on the Labour Rights Index, which benchmarks laws across 145 countries against ILO standards.

Co-author Asghar Jameel emphasized the Code’s importance for the 57 OIC member countries, many of which require legislation to align with Islamic principles. He stated the document would remain dynamic—freely available online and regularly updated—serving as a tool for reform, education, and advocacy.

Distinguished speakers at the event included Barrister Zafarullah Khan, who condemned bonded and child labour as contrary to Islamic values, and Allama Muhammad Raghib Hussain Naeemi, Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology, who praised the Code’s alignment with Islamic jurisprudence and its inclusion of trade union rights.

Dr. Ali Tariq of the International Islamic University underscored the importance of wages as a right, not charity, and advocated for the Code’s translation into Arabic. Trade unionist Zahoor Awan hailed the document as historic, referencing the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Farewell Sermon to support labour rights, while Shams Ur Rehman Swati and Umme-Laila Azhar addressed issues of workplace dignity and gender equity within an Islamic framework.

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The event concluded with a collective call to action for stakeholders to adopt and apply the Islamic Labour Code as a practical tool for promoting justice, dignity, and faith-based values in the world of work.