Kathmandu, December 14

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) — the United Nations’ specialised body dealing with labour issues, particularly international labour standards, social protection, and work opportunities for all — has said that it will intensify cooperation with Nepal in the days to come as the country comes out of a long political transition through the promulgation of the new Constitution and is moving towards economic prosperity.

On the occasion of 50 years of cooperation with Nepal, ILO has set its sight on supporting the country’s progress on the path of decent job creation within the country. ILO Director General, Guy Ryder who is currently in Nepal to mark 50 years of partnership with Nepal has said the country needs to move forward to bring Employment Policy-2014 into operational reality — realising the objectives of the policy that include encouragement of enterprise development, infrastructure building and skills development.

Talking to The Himalayan Times, the visiting dignitary said that ILO is willing to provide extensive support to Nepal to implement the Employment Policy-2014. “We have expertise working with the government to realise the objectives envisioned in the policy.”

He further said that Nepal, as a young populous country, should take advantage of its burgeoning population for the rapid development of the country. “The enormous job opportunities in the country through harnessing potential in tourism, hydroelectricity development and physical infrastructure, among others could make migration a choice for individuals rather than a compulsion.”

ILO is willing to provide extensive support to Nepal to implement Employment Policy-2014

— Guy Ryder, ILO director general

Emphasising on fair, transparent recruitment system in the labour recipient countries, Ryder said that the governing board of the ILO has adopted the fair recruitment guidelines in November after holding a series of negotiations with member countries (particularly, labour sending and labour recipient countries), to make the recruitment system transparent and ensure the rights of the migrant workers are respected. Though the guideline is voluntary, it will make the labour recipient countries more responsible in ensuring decent working environment, he said.

As Nepal is primarily a labour sending country, Ryder suggested that the country should focus on bilateral labour agreement with the labour destinations and also diversify the labour destinations through negotiations with the countries that offer plenty of job opportunities as they struggle with lower working-age population within their countries.

Apart from the government, ILO has been working with trade unions and employers (private sector) to ensure decent jobs, which is one of the 17 goals for sustainable development that the United Nations member countries have adopted, according to him.

As technological advancement has been leading the world towards ‘technological determinism’, which is assumed to destroy job opportunities for humans, Ryder believes that technology should be utilised for the betterment of the society.

“The world has witnessed three levels of industrial revolution — steam, combustion engine era and the latest electronic revolution — and now we are talking about the fourth revolution, that is, the technological advancement. The technological revolution needs to be utilised for promoting social and human needs and creation of decent jobs through proper policies to advance towards progressive world.”