FNCCI meets labour minister

Kathmandu, Aug. 21

The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) delegation, led by President Anjan Shrestha, met with Minister for Youth, Labour and Employment Ramji Yadav and discussed timely amendments to labour laws, promotion of domestic employment, management of labour market demand and supply, and industrial relations.

The FNCCI stressed that amendments to labour laws should be pursued in line with the changing labour market, industrial requirements and the country’s economic transformation. "Labour laws should be balanced and practical, encouraging investment and job creation, enhancing the competitiveness of industries, and ensuring workers’ rights and social security," it said in a statement.

“Along with amending labour laws, we need to consider what we want Nepal’s employment situation to look like over the next 10 years, while making the best possible use of the demographic dividend the country currently enjoys,” Shrestha said.

In response, Minister Yadav said the ministry was currently working on the first phase of amendments to the Labour Act and that consultations with relevant stakeholders would begin once the ministry completed its preliminary work. He also urged the FNCCI to undertake the necessary studies and preparations in parallel, and said the federation and other stakeholders would soon be invited for discussions.

He added that the practical experience and institutional recommendations of the private sector should be incorporated while amending the Labour Act 2017 and other labour-related laws. “Amendments to labour laws should not be pursued merely as legal reform, but as an economic reform linked to industrial investment, production, productivity, job creation and the long-term transformation of the labour market,” he said.

Regarding the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Bill 2083, which is under consideration in Parliament, the FNCCI expressed its commitment to the objective of eliminating child labour. However, it said provisions relating to implementation, compliance by industries and businesses, investigation, and penalties should be made practical and enforceable.

The FNCCI also stressed the need to effectively implement the concept of one establishment, one official trade union to promote stability, dialogue and productivity in industrial relations.

Minister Yadav said the amendment of the Labour Act also required serious discussion on issues related to the platform economy. He said he had already instructed the committee to invite employers’ and trade union representatives who participated in the 114th International Labour Conference to provide their suggestions.

Prabal Jung Pandey, chairperson of the FNCCI’s Employer Council, said an effective mechanism was needed to test and certify the skills of Nepalis returning from foreign employment.

He also called for skills testing of workers already employed in the domestic labour market, followed by reskilling and capacity-building programmes in collaboration with industries.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 22 August 2026.