Kathmandu, June 7

To implement the government’s directives on women working in informal and entertainment sector, the Women Development and Children Office, Kathmandu, has prepared the procedure for treatment of women working in restaurants, dance bars, massage parlours and other entertainment businesses.

Informing about the procedure, Chief of Women Development and Children Office, Kathmandu, Anita Adhikari said women working in the entertainment sector were not paid as per their employment contract and, in some instances, they had been working even without getting their contract and appointment letters. Moreover, girls below  the age of 16 were subjected to sexual exploitation at the workplace. “Due to the delay in implementation of the directives, women are falling victims to sexual exploitation,” she added.

Adhikari informed that women Development and Children Office will soon begin monitoring of entertainment businesses.

According to Women Development and Children Ofiice’s findings, women working in the entertainment  sector are paid low and they lack documents, such as their citizenship certificate ,and  they are also not given the appointment letters.

Similarly, they are forced to work in unhealthy environments, with no proper lights, ventilation and food facilities in their workplace. Female workers, mostly girls below 16, are also compelled to drink liquor and smoke with customers.

Paras Mani Pokharel, legal officer at District Administration Office, Kathmandu  informed that the newly introduced procedure has set standards for entertainment business in their treatment of women employees. The document also sets standards for the working women.

In a similar way, the employer should fulfil its responsibility towards its workers by providing safe and healthy environment to them, including female workers.