'Equality remains elusive sans labour right, climate justice'

Kathmandu, May 5: Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Nawal Kishor Sah Sudi, has said that labour exploitation, injustice, inequalities, and invisibility are the collective stories of those engaged in the informal sector.    

During his address to an inauguration session of two-day Climate Change and Decent Labour Campaign-2025 as the chief guest here today, the Minister was of the opinion that the constitutional rights including the right to dignity, right to equality, right to labour, the women's rights and the rights of the informal sector workers (who are largely women and marginalised communities) be ensured.    

"It is the collective responsibility of the government, civil societies and workers themselves to build an atmosphere for bringing such rights into practice," the Minister asserted.    

He went on to say that labour rights are not just the human rights issues, but it is concerned with economic justice and equality as well.    

Presenting the data that over 85 percent workers are associated with the informal sector and women make up above 90 percent among them, he said our journey towards the sustainable development goals including equality remain incomplete until the labour rights are guaranteed, decent labour is established and climate justice is ensured.    

The Minister shared that the government is collaborating with civil societies, workers, international community committed to recognising the voices of workers and addressing their concerns. He also utilised the forum to call on workers to further unite to amplify the voices of their rights.    

Santosh Pariyar, member on the Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee, House of Representatives, said May 5 carries significance in history as it is the birth anniversary of Karl Marx. "If we wish to change the society, it is urgent to amplify the voices of women, dalits, ethnic community and workers community."    

Similarly, Dr Surya Prasad Sharma Dhungel, the member of the National Human Rights Commission, acknowledged the exploitation of labour in informal sector. Stating that a worker has been in the informal sector for over 20 years, he called for carrying on the voices of informal workers in each forum including the parliament.

  
Kusum Devi Thapa of the Agriculture, Cooperatives and Natural Resources Committee, said informal sector workers are marred by the climate crisis, pledging that the Committee will cooperate with informal sectors to implement the conclusions of the gathering.    

The two-day event organised by the Nepal Mahila Ekata Samaj, Youth Advocacy Nepal and the actionaid has been supported by various 53 organisations.  (RSS)