NC set the foundation for labour sector policies and laws-President Deuba

Kathmandu, May 23: Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba has claimed that his party had prepared the base of labour sector policy and laws in the country.     

Former Prime Minister Deuba said this at a programme 'Workers' Issues related to professional respect, security and dignified job', organized by the NC Department of Labour and Trade Union at the party central office, today.     

He further stated that the Congress government got the Factory Act, 2016 BS, Labor Act, 2048 (Revised 2074), and the Contribution-Based Social Security Act, 2074 endorsed through Parliament.     

'I myself freed the Kamaiyas (previous bonder labourers) in 2057 BS, therefore the bases of labour policies and laws were prepared by the Congress. Some sections of the Labour Act, including 145 and 180, are not favourable for workers, and the lax in implementation of the minimum wage set by the government may be due to weaknesses in the labor inspection system. This will be reconsidered', President Deuba asserted.     

He expressed the commitment that Congress would advocate for Nepal to ratify Convention 87 on the right to organize of the International Labour Organization and for the establishment of a constitutional labour commission, and amend and implement labour laws.     

He further expressed the commitment from the party's end to advance education and civil service bills.     

Deuba mentioned that the Congress would take an initiative to identify and register informal sector workers at local level. He also stated that national policies would prioritize creating employment opportunities for the youth in the country.     

During the event, senior advocate Gopal Krishna Ghimire, Dean of the Faculty of Management at Tribhuvan University, Prof. Dr. Mahananda Chalise, and Chartered Accountant Arjun Kumar Gautam presented papers on workers' rights. The NC has stated that the participants would be allowed to put their deliberations on the papers.(RSS)