New employment directive implemented

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 21: The government has issued and implemented National Employment Promotion Programme (Operation and Management) Directive, 2082.

According to the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, the directive has been issued following a ministerial decision to effectively implement the National Employment Promotion Programme across the country.

Exercising the authority granted by Section 32 of the Right to Employment Act, 2075, the ministry has approved and implemented the directive on December 18, 2025.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Pitambar Ghimire, said that the directive has been issued to establish a legal framework for the operation and management of the National Employment Promotion Programme as a common plan, aimed at implementing the initiatives and commitments of the Internal Employment Promotion Decade Campaign announced by the Government of Nepal to promote domestic employment.

Ghimire further stated that, with the implementation of the National Employment Promotion Programme, the previous Prime Minister Employment Programme has been discontinued. 

This programme will be operated in all seven provinces and 753 local levels, including the federal level.

Under the new programme, skill development, employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship development programmes will be implemented as per the demand of the labour market, targeting the youth entering the country's labour market.

In addition, arrangements have been made to promote employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship development by utilising the skills, capital, experience and technology of those who have returned from foreign employment.

Similarly, there is a plan to operate a minimum employment programme targeting the unemployed registered at the local level employment service centre, Ghimire said.

According to the directive, a reintegration programme targeting people returning from foreign employment and various programmes to promote internal employment will be operated.

According to Ghimire, the reintegration programme targeting people returning from foreign employment will also be operated through the employment promotion programme.

Under this programme, employment will be provided to the unemployed, those seeking employment, those returning from foreign employment, and those who need special concessions from the state.

Around Rs. 1.98 billion has been allocated for this programme in the current fiscal year's budget, he said.

Under this programme, approximately 17,000 people will be provided employment during the year, he said. According to him, the directive has made arrangements for the National Steering Committee to operate the programme.

The committee, which will be chaired by the Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security, will have one secretary each from the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration as members, and an official from the provincial level Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry will also be a member.

Arrangements have been made to have employment service centres in every village. 

The functions, duties, and powers of the employment service centres include implementing local-level approved programmes, managing minimum employment programmes, preventing child labour and forced labour, working on social security funds, promoting internal employment, and working on foreign employment.

Similarly, the employment service centre will also coordinate and facilitate the use of skills, capital, experience, and technology of people returning from foreign employment, entrepreneurship development, skill and capacity development, and business and entrepreneurship development with banks and financial institutions.

According to the directive, special programmes and projects related to demand and supply should be formulated and implemented after analysing the situation, potential, and labour market.

Similarly, the Employment Service Centre will have to conduct a survey of the labour market and manage records related to labour and employment, while the local level will have to collect and update the details of unemployed people, part-time employment, employment and self-employment, training provider organizations, employers, and banks and financial institutions within its area.