Kathmandu, June 12

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Nepal to the UN and Other International Organisations at Geneva, Deepak Dhital, has said that as in many developing countries, particularly LDCs, the shortage of decent remunerating jobs for the youths has remained a formidable challenge in our society.

Addressing the 106th International Labour Conference in Geneva today, Ambassador Dhital said much concerted efforts were necessary to achieve structural transformation of the economy, create on-farm and non-farm employment opportunities and establish linkages between the requisite skills and qualifications of job seekers with the emerging realities in the labour market, said a press release issued by Nepali Embassy in Geneva.

According to him, labour migration for employment and remittances has become an important aspect of socio-economic life in Nepal. Nepal wants to stress that in view of the valuable contributions migrant workers make in the multi-dimensional development of destination, transit and origin countries, their fundamental rights must be protected throughout the entire cycle of migration by putting stronger policies in place and implementing effective measures in this regard.

“Nepal stands for bilateral, regional and global collective efforts to ensure safe, orderly and regular migration for the labour force. We therefore believe that the ongoing effort in Global Compact on Migration must address the crux of labour migration issues,” he underscored.

Moreover, Ambassador Dhital mentioned that Nepal’s development agenda was guided by the national imperatives of promoting decent work opportunities, productive employment, equal and proportional participation of people in all possible gainful activities, elimination of all forms of discrimination and ensuring social justice.

He informed the global community that the new Constitution of Nepal enshrines Right to Labour, Right to Employment and Right to Social Justice as fundamental rights, among others, to make sure that all vulnerable and marginalised groups are also taken on board while considering job opportunities, welfare and social protection. Inclusion of special provisions of affirmative action in the constitution itself clearly indicates that Nepal is committed to the making of an equitable and just society.

He said Nepal reiterates its deep commitment to the international conventions and frameworks that it has ratified, and in line with these conventions, has introduced several measures and action plans, including timely amendments to the national laws, rules and regulations for equal enjoyment of fundamental rights at the workplace and overall welfare of the work force.

As he said Nepal is adopting a Master Plan to end all forms of child labour by 2025. Nepal believes in optimum mobilisation of the tripartite constituencies for social dialogues to promote and protect the vital interests of the labour force in accordance with the established labour standards, the Ambassador emphasised.