Kathmandu, May 23: ILO Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Tomoko Nishimoto, has wrapped up her four-day visit to Nepal on Wednesday with a call to all constituents to “work beyond the normal” to help realize social justice and decent work for all. The visit was part of her commitment to reinforce relations with ILO constituents, comprising the Government, and organizations of employers and workers, and to generate general public discourse on the ILO Centenary Initiative on the Future of Work, the ILO’s Country Office for Nepal stated in a press release.
Nishimoto paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Tuesday and briefed him on the ILO’s Centenary Initiatives on the Future of Work. Prime Minister Oli highlighted the reforms being made by Nepal, including increment on minimum wages, launching of contribution based social security scheme and labour legislations. He also appreciated the role of the ILO in promoting fundamental rights at work, equality and social justice.
In her meeting with Finance Minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada, the two discussed the challenges and opportunities of Nepalese labour market and translating provisions outlined in the contributory social security law for workers. She shared the ILO initiative on the Future of Work, and made references to the experiences of ASEAN countries in this regard. Minister Khatiwada highlighted some of the key initiative taken by the Ministry in support of application of minimum wage, contribution-based social security, labour rights, and strengthening of labour administration including inspection.
The ILO Assistant Director-General also called on Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Mr Gokarna Bista and took stock of the developments in the labour administration of Nepal. The Minister spoke on the key priorities of the Government including application of labour legislations, contribution-based social security scheme and creation of employment in the country. He emphasized on the need of more ILO technical support as Nepal is passing through a very crucial stage of political transformation.
Secretary at the Ministry Mahesh Prasad Dahal briefed Ms Nishimoto about the initiatives of the Ministry, the need to enhance capacity of labour administration towards protecting and promoting the rights of Nepali workers. He also said that the Government is mulling to ratify some ILO conventions relevant to Nepal this year.
Similarly, Nishimoto held separate meetings with Ms Bhawani Rana, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and prominent trade union leaders on contemporary issues related to labour, social and economic changes unfolding in the world of work and how growth could go alongside unionism.
On 20 May, Ms Nishimoto attended a National Tripartite Discussion Programme on the Global Commission report on the Future of work co-hosted by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security and the International Labour Organization (ILO). During the discussion programme, the speakers shed light on, among others, the concept of life-long learning, universal labour guarantee, need to increase investment in people’s capabilities, institutions of work and decent and sustainable work. During her stay in Nepal, she also had separate discussions with representatives of a number of development partners in Nepal, including Ms Valerie Julliand, UN Resident Coordinator.
