Wednesday, May 22, 2019

ILO assistant director general concludes her four-day mission to Kathmandu

ILO assistant director general and regional director for Asia and the Pacific Tomoko Nishimoto has wrapped up her four-day visit to Nepal today with a call to all constituents to ‘work beyond the normal’ to help realise social justice and decent work for all.
The visit was part of her commitment to reinforce relations with ILO constituents, comprising the government, and organisations of employers and workers, and to generate general public discourse on the ILO Centenary Initiative on the Future of Work.
Nishimoto paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli yesterday where she briefed the premier on the ILO's Centenary Initiatives on the Future of Work. On the occasion, 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.
Likewise, in her meeting with finance minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada, she discussed the challenges and opportunities of Nepali labour market and translating provisions outlined in the contributory social security law for workers. She also shared the ILO initiative on the Future of Work, and made references to the experiences of ASEAN countries in this regard. Dr 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.
Also, the ILO assistant director general called on minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Gokarna Bista and took stock of the developments in the labour administration of Nepal. Bista, on the occasion, 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 also emphasised on the need of more ILO technical support as Nepal is passing through a very crucial stage of political transformation. Similarly, secretary at the Ministry Mahesh Prasad Dahal briefed 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 Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) president Bhawani Rana 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. During her stay in Nepal, she also had separate discussions with representatives of a number of development partners in Nepal, including UN Resident Coordinator Valerie Julliand.

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