Nepal to host fifth national labour and employment conference in March

January 2, 2025, 12:12:42 PM |

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Labour, Employment, and Social Security has announced plans to host the Fifth National Labour and Employment Conference on March 1 and 2, 2025. The conference aims to develop a strategic action plan for the Decade of Domestic Employment Promotion.*

The event will analyze challenges in both domestic and foreign employment sectors, offering recommendations for policy and legal reforms to foster a conducive environment for employment. The ministry also seeks to establish inter-level and inter-agency coordination and collaboration to enhance labour and employment opportunities.

This will be Nepal’s fifth such conference, following previous events held in 1997, 2004, 2012, and 2020.

Addressing Labour Market Contraction

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Ministry Spokesperson Danduraj Ghimire highlighted Nepal’s shrinking labour market. “The government must not only regulate but also actively promote sectors that create jobs,” Ghimire said. “We need to discuss the role of industries and establishments, along with employment opportunities across the entire supply chain.”

Key Discussion Areas

The conference will focus on several critical themes:
– Transforming production and productivity systems to promote domestic employment.
– Improving governance in migration and formalizing informal sectors.
– Encouraging collaboration among federal, provincial, and local governments, along with private sector involvement.
– Expanding social security and insurance in both formal and informal sectors.
– Utilizing knowledge, skills, and capital gained from foreign employment in productive sectors.

Proposals for reforming the Foreign Employment Act, restructuring the National Vocational Skills Development Institute, and improving the Social Security Fund and Foreign Employment Board will also be discussed. The insights gathered will shape a 10-year strategic plan for domestic employment promotion.

Organizational Structure and Participants

A main organizing committee, chaired by Labour Secretary Mukunda Prasad Niraula, has been formed to oversee the event.

The conference will bring together 500 participants, including representatives from federal, provincial, and local governments, private sector stakeholders, trade unions, labour and employment businesses, researchers, experts, development partners, non-governmental organizations, and youth groups.

This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to fostering employment and improving productivity in Nepal, addressing domestic and international labour challenges, and enhancing social security systems.

Fiscal Nepal |

Thursday January 2, 2025, 12:12:42 PM |