Kathmandu, March 13:

Demanding ratification of ILO Convention 183 on maternal protection, the Nepal National Teachers’ Organisation and the Nepal Teachers’ Association today submitted to the Ministry of Education and Sports the signatures they had collected to pressure the government sign the convention.

Talking to this daily, general secretary of the NNTO Baburam Adhikari said the ILO Convention 183 should be ratified to secure the women’s rights, including health protection, employment protection, non-discrimination, maternity leave, leave in the case of illness or complication, among other. He said ratification of the convention was important specially when a large number of women are still suffering from different health problems in Nepal.

The signature collection campaign was launched on International Women’s Day last year and the collected signatures were submitted to the ministry today.

After receiving the signatures, secretary at the ministry Balananda Poudel said he would draw the attention of the minister to ratify the convention.