Kathmandu, November 3

The government has requested the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to launch result-oriented projects in Nepal.

Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Employment Laxman Prasad Mainali has requested Director General (DG) of ILO Guy Ryder to launch skill development and green-jobs creation programmes in Nepal.

Mainali, who is in Geneva to attend the 331st governing board meeting of the ILO, apprised Ryder that Nepali youths who are migrating for foreign employment are seeking skill development programmes. He also urged the ILO to make sure that the fundamental rights of Nepali migrant workers are protected in the workplaces.

“Nepal needs support to create jobs in the country for the youths to prevent them from going abroad and also to provide them opportunities when they return home after completing their contract,” Mainali said.

He also sought stronger cooperation between Nepal and ILO. Mainali also informed the ILO about the activities taken up under the labour reform programmes highlighting the major provisions of the new Labour Act that was recently endorsed by the Parliament and came into implementation after authentication by the president.

Members of the Nepali delegation also informed the ILO representatives about the job creation scenario in the country and condition of migrant labourers who are working in various destinations. Nepal has also emphasised that ILO could play important advisory and technical roles in reflecting the core elements of labour rights.

In the meeting, Binda Pandey, a deputy member of the governing board of ILO, who was also representing the Nepali team, raised concerns related with work conditions and labour migration. She also requested for technical support that ILO could extend to Nepal in implementing some of the social measures of new Labour Act, including in capacity building and labour inspection. Pandey proposed to continue the Decent Work Country Programme for another five years in Nepal.

Responding to the Nepali representatives, ILO DG Ryder said migration should be well managed, safe and secure. He assured all possible support from ILO in decent job creation and making labour migration safe and humane.

The governing board meeting started on October 26 and will continue till November 9.