KATHMANDU, JUNE 9
Addressing the 113th International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, Minister for Labour, Employment, and Social Security Sharat Singh Bhandari stated that Nepal has prioritised job creation as a key component of its development strategy.
He emphasised that Nepal has declared this the Decade of Internal Employment Promotion, with the goal of increasing investments in employment-intensive sectors through public-private partnerships and development cooperation.
"To support this, we have revitalised our National Academy of Vocational Training, transforming it into a hub of excellence for future-ready skills," he stated.
"With a strong focus on digital, green, and entrepreneurial competencies, the Academy, working closely with the private sector, civil society, and development partners, is equipping our workforce for both domestic engagement and international mobility under safe, fair, and ethical labour conditions."
He also stated that Nepal is pursuing a comprehensive agenda for formalisation and contributory social protection. "These include integrated platforms for labour inspection, job matching, skill profiling, enterprise registration, and dispute resolution, all interconnected with our national Social Security Fund," he added.
According to him, Nepal's contribution-based scheme now extends coverage to medical, maternity, rescue and relief, occupational injury, disability, and pension benefits. "The coverage is progressively expanding to include informal sector workers and returnee migrants, thereby ensuring that no one is left behind in our pursuit of social justice," he stated.
He also stressed the importance of tripartite dialogue in strengthening democratic labour governance. The national Labour Administration, its mechanism, and its practices comprise representatives of government, employers, and workers. "This participatory model is being replicated at the provincial and local levels in line with our federal structure," he added.
