19 June, Kanchanpur : Discussions have been held with representatives of concerned authorities and stakeholders to establish a labor help desk at the local levels of Kanchanpur to protect the rights of informal sector workers, ensure easy access to social security and labour-related services. The help desk will hear workers’ complaints, resolve labour disputes, implement minimum wage, and increase access to social security.
The National Freed Haliya Federation Nepal has stated that discussions and advocacy programs are underway to establish labour help desks in Krishnapur, Shuklaphanta, Bedkot, and Bhimdatta municipalities under the ‘Parishram Project’ run by the Federation with the financial support of ActionAid.
Shivi Luhar, the central vice-president of the federation, said that due to the lack of labour-friendly policies and institutional structures at the local level, most informal workers are being deprived of the services provided by the state. Most freed haliyas, freed kamaiyas and other informal workers are still forced to work without a written contract, accept wages lower than the prescribed ones and work in unsafe workplaces.
The establishment of the labour help desk will make it easier to manage labour data at the local level, register workers, coordinate between employers and workers, register labour-related complaints, resolve initial disputes, monitor minimum wage, consult on labour laws and expand access to social security schemes. Social leader Ishwar Sunar said that most workers are at high risk of labour exploitation as they work without a written contract.
According to him, the labour help desk can be an effective means to end the situation of not receiving wages even after working for months, not receiving compensation in case of accidents, and not being able to seek legal redress. Shuklaphanta Municipality Mayor Rana Bahadur Mahara said that the municipality is working to maintain records of skilled and unskilled workers through the employment unit and pledged to take positive initiatives in terms of establishing the labour help desk.
Binita Chaudhary, a construction worker, said that she receives only Rs. 600 for a day’s work, which is less than the minimum wage set by the government. “Employers warn that they will not give work if I ask for the minimum wage. We are forced to work for low wages even to support our families.”
