KATHMANDU: Government officials and stakeholders have raised the issue of low living wage and other interconnected factors of women working in informal sectors, especially dance restaurants, ghajal/ dohori restaurants, massage parlours and other restaurants.

Wages of women in informal sector is so low that they are not sufficient to sustain livelihood

Speaking at a national workshop in the capital today, Radhika Aryal, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, said that the issue of living wage of women working in the informal sector was of great concern, but it could not be addressed without the support of Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The workshop ‘Living wage of women working in the informal and entertainment sectors in Nepal: Provisions, challenges and way forward’ was jointly organised by Women’s Rehabilitation Center and Women Forum for Women in Nepal to sensitise the related agencies on the living wage and various interconnected issues of women workers as well as to create a platform for expanding relations and coordination among the women workers and various stakeholders. “Instead of managing the informal sector, it is important to turn them into a formal sector and this is not possible without making proper policy,” said Aryal.

At the programme, five women working in the informal sector shared personal life stories and difficulties faced while working in this sector.

According to the organisers, the government has fixed Rs 8,200 as minimum monthly salary, which is, ‘in fact itself not sufficient to sustain livelihood’ in cities like Kathmandu. “The minimum salary is also not secured for women working in the sector. Women are compelled to work for as much as Rs 1,500 to 6,000 monthly salary, which is also frequently denied by the business owners on their own their will. As there are no specific laws to ensure rights of women workers, the businesses are run in the will of the owners, based either on complete personal will or a few regulations that are set by the owners themselves,” said the organisers.

Due to lack of living wage, women workers are compelled to live with lot of economic hardships. The stakeholders also discussed and highlighted the pre- and post-disaster situation and issues of livelihood and wages of women workers in the informal and entertainment sectors.

“The employment of women working in this sector should be given recognition, identity and respect as labour, ensuring human and labour rights. The state needs to seriously initiate security mechanism for provision for rehabilitation of earthquake-affected women workers, who are now displaced with scarcity of basic needs. If the issue is not addressed in time, vulnerability towards risks of human trafficking, abuses is likely to increase,” said Srijana Pun, Chairperson of WOFOWON.