Kathmandu— Nepal’s Minister for Youths, Labour and Employment, Ramji Yadav, affirmed the government’s dedication to improving conditions for domestic workers during a meeting with the Industry, Commerce, Labour and Consumer Welfare Committee of the House of Representatives on August 25th. The discussion centered on amending existing labor laws and addressing issues related to worker rights, particularly concerning outsourcing practices that have been criticized for exploitation and circumvention of legal protections. Lawmakers raised concerns about both domestic and international employment conditions, with proposals including fact-finding missions to Gulf countries where many Nepali workers are employed.

Labor Act Amendment Under Consideration

Minister Yadav expressed confidence that amending the current Labour Act would resolve numerous issues faced by workers in Nepal. The specifics of the proposed amendments were not detailed, but the minister indicated a commitment to systemic improvements within the sector. Discussions also included management strategies for workers employed through outsourcing arrangements.

Outsourcing Practices Face Scrutiny

Committee President Rahabar Ansari voiced strong concerns regarding the increasing trend of labor outsourcing and its impact on worker rights. He argued that both public and private sector entities were utilizing procurement laws to bypass their responsibilities towards laborers, leading to exploitation and a denial of fundamental protections. Ansari emphasized that all parties involved must be held accountable for ensuring fair treatment.

Calls for International Monitoring

Lawmaker Kshitij Thebe proposed conducting on-site monitoring visits to countries like Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE – major destinations for Nepali migrant workers – to assess their working conditions firsthand. He suggested that direct observation would facilitate more effective problem identification and solution development, particularly regarding vulnerable domestic workers abroad. Ranju Neupane echoed these concerns, stressing the need to end exploitation within outsourcing companies.

Legislators Advocate for Worker-Centric Policies

Several lawmakers contributed to the discussion, advocating for policies that prioritize worker rights and company accountability. Som Sharma called for a policy framework supporting laws favorable to workers, while Martika Prasad Yadav, Buddhi Prasad Panta, Arbinda Sah, Kali Bahadur Sahakari, and Srijana Shrestha all voiced support for strengthening protections for laborers. Neupane also suggested forming an expert committee to draft a revised labor act with worker rights at its core.

The parliamentary committee indicated it would continue to prioritize the rights of workers and address anomalies within the outsourcing system, signaling ongoing scrutiny of labor practices in Nepal.

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.