Minister Bhandari stresses competent workforce

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, June 28: Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Sarat Singh Bhandari, has emphasised the need to prepare a skilled workforce capable of using technology for emerging employment opportunities.

Speaking at a programme organised to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among the Local Development Training Academy, Foreign Employment Board, and Helvetas Nepal at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS) on Friday, Minister Bhandari said that in a rapidly changing global context, producing a competent workforce equipped with technological knowledge, skills, and capacity would reduce concerns over employment.

The tripartite MoU was signed among the three institutions to enhance capacity building in the areas of labour, employment, and migration, the MoLESS informed in a statement.

He highlighted the need for academic studies on labour, and informed that discussions and groundwork are underway to introduce a ‘Diploma in Labour Studies’ course in collaboration with the Kathmandu University.

Minister Bhandari stressed the importance of empowering information dissemination bodies, noting that due to lack of access to information, both domestic and foreign employment opportunities are often not fully utilised.

The Minister further stated that all services provided by the MoLESS are being channelled through Employment Service Centres (ESC) established in all 753 local units. These units are established for integrated service delivery. Minister Bhandari claimed that the ministry is advancing the digitalisation of all its services.

Expressing gratitude towards the Government of Switzerland and Swisscontact for their support in making labour and migration services more accessible, he also called for continued cooperation in the future.

Minister Bhandari informed that Nepal’s first-ever National Migration Policy is nearing finalisation and expressed confidence that it would soon be approved by the Council of Ministers.

Secretary for Labour Dr. Krishna Hari Pushkar said that the agreement would help address gaps between training and skills, as well as between needs and available training. 

He expressed hope that with mutual support, collaboration, and appreciation among the three institutions, the labour and migration sector would witness new developments.