Gloom Behind Glamour

Despite its glamorous image, the entertainment industry in Nepal has been plagued by elements of insecurity, exploitation, abuse and harassment. Most employees in this industry lack signed contracts, exposing them to risks of unpaid wages, arbitrary firings, and unsafe working conditions. In addition, without any documents about their employment, they do not have an opportunity to defend themselves and receive compensation for the violation of labour rights. When the very existence of one's job is in question, speaking up about existing problems proves too costly.

Complaints about harassment by clients and the employer's threats in the entertainment industry illustrate a concerning issue. Moreover, some employees are required to attract clients in order to increase profits, which creates an additional source of stress and violence at work. Due to our systematic inability to define and promote safe workspaces, bad behaviours continue to flourish. Most such acts of violence are unreported. The official numbers already reveal an alarming increase in cases of violence toward women. However, it is still difficult to talk about all the cases of sexual abuse due to fear, dependency, and social stigma. For those working in the informal sectors, these issues become even more important.

That being said, it is not appropriate to regard the entire industry as abusive. On the one hand, people working in the industry might not get other opportunities for earning money; on the other hand, some companies try to establish ethical relations between themselves and their employees. Nonetheless, the economic benefits do not justify the violation of human rights. In this scenario, the role of the government seems inadequate. Laws pertaining to violence and labour rights have been passed, but their execution is still inadequate. Coordination gaps between various levels of governments and poor integration of data systems make the situation even more difficult to cope with. In the absence of proper data and effective measures, any policy can be just symbolic rather than being life-changing.

There is also a need to question the methods of recruiting people. Using third parties to recruit workers by hiding certain facts seems unethical. This requires a comprehensive approach to fix the problem. The employees should be hired on a contract basis to guarantee the legal protection of workers during any kind of violence. A code of conduct and standards at the workplace should be established and enforced, along with strict penalties for non-compliance. Conversely, establishing anonymous reporting channels for victims can ensure that their issues receive attention without discouragement.

Furthermore, there should also be a change in society’s perception. Victims often hesitate to speak up due to the low social status associated with certain jobs, which leads to high levels of stigma. Such measures will help promote the respectability of every job to prevent such acts from happening. However, the entertainment industry need not sacrifice its vitality for safety. Indeed, securing the people who work in the industry will only strengthen it. Silence can maintain the appearance of normality, but at the same time, it perpetuates a cycle of injustice. Breaking this culture of silence is long overdue.