No work without equal pay, say informal sector women workers

By TRN Online, Kathmandu, April 29: Informal sector workers have raised voice for equal wage for equal value of work.

The workers raised the voice today at an interaction jointly organized by HomeNet Nepal, Nepal Mahila Ekta Samaj, Rastriya Mahila Adhikar Manch, GEFONT, NTUC and Action Aid Nepal in the context of upcoming May Day.

Eight women workers narrated stories of their struggle in the interaction attended by government officials, representatives of workers' unions and private sector.

The workers' who were sharing their plights for the first time in a public forum stressed for equal wage for both men and women. They also emphasized on ensuring safe workplace for women workers.

According to Executive Director of Home Net Nepal Om Thapaliya, women workers from the Kathmandu Valley involved in different sectors shared their stories.

Home based workers Laxmi Oli of Godabari municipality, Usha Maharjan of Kritipur, and Manita Tamang Pahari of Badikhel; agriculture workers Shila Purkuti of Dakshinkali, Sharmila Tamang and Dolmo Nesur of Shankarapur; care worker Laxmi Chhetri of Shankhamul and domestic worker Sarita Shrestha of Basantapur shared stories of their struggle.

Agriculture worker Nesur committed that she wouldn't do any work unless she gets equal wage and she also urged all other women workers not to accept any work offer without equal pay. "Let's not go for work unless you get equal pay for equal work," she said.

The women workers who shared their plight said that though the country's constitution and laws have ensured equal pay for equal work, the reality is totally different in reality.

They complained that they are underpaid even though they do equally difficult and hazardous work just like men.

After listening to stories of the workers' plight, chief of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion section of Ministry of Health and Population, Roshani Devi Karki urged the women workers to come forward to claim the rights of gender equality as ensured by the constitution and the laws.

"The Constitution and laws have ensured the equal rights. The government has introduced various programs in accordance with the constitutional provision but that are yet to be fully implemented," Under Secretary Karki said, "But the women workers themselves should come forward to claim the rights and implement the constitutional provisions." She also urged the workers to be prepared to struggle for the rights and press the government.

Executive Director Kapilmani Gyawali of Social Security Fund informed that the government was going to introduce programs to ensure health treatment for informal sector workers in the designated hospitals.

According to him the program will come into effect from coming fiscal year.

Associate Professor of Tribhuwan University and labour expert Umesh Upadhyay shed light on gender discrimination in labor sector and suggested the ways to resolve them.

Executive Director of Home Net Nepal Om Thapaliya said that as the constitution and laws cover only the formal sectors, nearly 92 percent of informal sector workers have been deprived of benefits of social security schemes.