Kathmandu, May 1

With an aim to reduce unemployment rate in the country, the government has said it will create 150,000 additional jobs in next fiscal year.

On the occasion of 130th Labour Day observed with the slogan ‘Sustainable Pension for all: The Role of Social Partners’ here today, Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Gokarna Bista said that the government is now focused on putting an end to the situation in which Nepalis are compelled to seek jobs abroad.

“We plan to double the job oppportunities within the country by next fiscal and the government is committed to ensure than no Nepali needs to migrate abroad for jobs due to lack of prospects here,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bista further said the government is also trying to ensure there is no labour exploitation in any sector.

Binod Shrestha, president of Joint Trade Union Coordination Centre (JTUCC), underlined the need for guaranteeing the rights of workers as mentioned in the Constitution.

He further said that workers should not be deprived of their rights under any circumstances. “Guarantee of their rights would help the country advance towards a path of prosperity.”

Shrestha further said that government needs to be serious about the concerns of workers and address them. “The state should seriously look into the cases of some firms not paying minimum wage to their employees and not providing social and health security to their workers.”

According to Minister Bista, the government plans to create between 100,000 to 200,000 additional jobs per year.

The Nepali labour market sees entry of at least 512,000 youths looking for formal jobs per year, according to the Economic Survey of the Ministry of Finance. Out of them, only 150,000 are getting jobs in the local job market, while the rest are leaving for foreign destinations for work.

As per the minister, the government plans to generate employment for more than 500,000 people by fiscal year 2021-22.