Kathmandu, Feb. 20
Minister for Labour, Employment and Social
Justice, Sharat Singh Bhandari, has responded positively to the call of the
International Labour Organization (ILO) to Nepal to participate in the Global
Coalition for Social Justice (GCSJ) an initiative launched to intensify
collective efforts to urgently address social justice deficits.
This initiative primarily includes programmes
and actions to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) and the Decent Work Agenda, said the ILO.
Numan Ozcan, Director of ILO Country Office
for Nepal, officially invited Nepal to the GCSJ initiative at a tripartite
consultation programme organised on the occasion of the World Day of Social
Justice at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS) on
Tuesday. The programme was jointly organised by the ILO, MoLESS, Joint Trade
Union Coordination Committee (JTUCC) and Federation of Nepalese Chambers of
Commerce and Industry (FNCCI).
The GCSJ is a voluntary platform for
governments, employers' and workers' organisations, international and regional
organisations, financial institutions and development banks, enterprises,
international non-government organisations and academia, committed to the
advancement of social justice and engage in collaborate efforts for the same.
Immediate action areas of the initiative
are addressing inequality, discrimination and exclusion, realizing labour
rights as human rights, ensuring human dignity and meeting basic needs.
Is also includes the elements like
reinforcing institutions of social dialogue, and providing protection and
building resilience.
"We will hold a series of
consultations and dialogues with the stakeholders including the entrepreneurs
and trade unions and make a decision about participating in the
initiative," Ministry Bhandari said.
According to him, Nepal is still investing
less in job creation, livelihood and income enhance activities and the human
development initiatives here basically rely on remittances.
Minister Bhandari also said that while the
country is set to graduate to a developing nation by 2026, the agenda of decent
work and equality has become more relevant.
Speaking at the event, Ozcan said that the
Coalition creates a collaborative space for action, dialogue and advocacy, in
which partners shape individual and collective opportunities for concrete
actions and tangible outcomes.
Secretary of the MoLESS, Kewal Prasad Bhandari, said that Nepal is
facing internal as well as external challenges in labour. At home, it is facing
challenges to implement basic wage scale and social security, and abroad Nepali
migrant workers' rights, safety and social security are paramount.
"Employers are
not getting workers that match the requirement of the job while workers are
struggling to make both ends meet even after doing multiple job at the same
time. There is an urgent need to end this paradox," said Bhandari.
Likewise, President of
the FNCCI, Chandra Prasad Dhakal, said that social
justice cannot be ensured only by reforming one sector.
"Common efforts and commitment are
very important as social justice can be felt only through equal opportunities and
reach in all economic, social, political and cultural sectors," he said
while informing that the private sector is also becoming aware and responsible
regarding the growing interest and need for social justice.
Dhakal also talked about the role of the private
sector in the development of Nepal's economy. He said that a large part of the
economy is informal and the promotion and assurance of social justice is
challenging for our country with class and ethnic diversity.
Similarly, Yogendra
Kumar Kunwar, President of the JTUCC, said that the social justice is the base
for socialism.
According to him,
prosperity of a handful people will not make people happy although it will
improve the economic indicators of the country.
In a video message,
Director General of ILO, Gilbert Houngbo, said that the GCSJ aims at fighting
together against discrimination.
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