Work-related gender gaps persist but solutions are clear: ILO

A future of work  in which women will no longer lag behind men is within reach, but it will take a quantum leap, not just hesitant incremental steps, to get there, according to a new International Labour Organisation (ILO) report published for International Women’s Day  tomorrow.
"We need to make it happen, and the report, 'A Quantum leap for gender equality: For a better future of work for all', provides a way forward,” said director at the ILO Conditions of Work and Equality Department Manuela Tomei.
The report is the culmination of five years of work under the ILO’s Women at Work Centenary Initiative. It finds that in the last 27 years the difference in the employment rates for men and women has shrunk by less than two percentage points. In 2018, women are still 26 percentage points less likely to be in employment than men. This contrasts with the findings of an ILO-Gallup 2017 global report on women’s and men’s preferences about women’s participation in paid work, which found that 70 per cent of women prefer to have a job rather than staying at home and that men agree.
In addition, between 2005 and 2015, the ‘motherhood employment penalty’, the difference in the proportion of adult women with children under six years in employment, compared to women without young children, increased significantly, by 38 per cent.
Moreover, women are still underrepresented at the top, a situation that has changed very little in the last 30 years. Fewer than one third of managers are women, although they are likely to be better educated than their male counterparts. The report shows generally that education is not the main reason for lower employment rates and lower pay of women, but rather that women do not receive the same dividends for education as men.
There is also a ‘motherhood leadership penalty’: only 25 per cent of managers with children under six years of age are women. Women’s share rises to 31 per cent for managers without young children.
The gender wage gap remains at an average of 20 per cent globally. Mothers experience a ‘motherhood wage penalty’ that compounds across their working life, while fathers enjoy a wage premium. 

Nepal-Bangladesh sign DTAA

Nepal and Bangladesh today signed Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income.
At a function organised in Singha Durbar at the Finance Ministry, revenue secretary Lal Shanker Ghimire and his Bangladeshi counterpart senior secretary International Resources Division of Ministry of Finance and chairman of the National Board of Revenue of Bangladesh Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the DTAA in presence of finance minister Dr Yubraj Khatiwada.
The agreement aims at providing settlement between the tax claims of the government of Nepal and the government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. It would also eliminate double taxation and promotion of bilateral trade, persons, services and capital investment.
With the signing of the deal, investors, students and employees are expected to benefit because they can deduct the tax amount that they pay in one country in another country.
"The agreement will pave ways for the expansion of trade relation and investment between the two countries," said Ghimire after signing the agreement between the two SAARC countries.
Once the agreement is signed, the Bangladeshi investors will be able to deduct the tax amount that they filed in Nepal while repatriating the dividend to Bangladesh. Likewise, nationals of both countries will not be liable to pay any other tax in Nepal and Bangladesh after showing the authentic documents of tax clearance where they are working, either in Bangladesh or in Nepal.
Lately, Bangladeshi investors have been interested to invest in Nepal, and the agreement will encourage more investment from Bangladeshi investers. "The agreement signed today would be crucial for investment expansion as well as searching further dimensions," senior secretary Hossain added.
Nepal has already signed DTAA with China, India, Qatar, South Korea, Pakistan, Mauritius, Austria, Sri Lanka, Norway and Thailand.

Reconstruction of Rani Pokhari starts

The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has started – from today – the reconstruction of Rani Pokhari through Consumers Committee in Kathmandu.
"Reconstruction of Rani Pokhari will be done as per traditional style, techniques, and building materials that matches its original Malla-era designs," chief executive officer (CEO) of NRA Sushil Gyawali said, on the occasion, expressing confidence in receiving support from all in the reconstruction process of Rani Pokhari.
According to Rani Pokhari Reconstruction Consumers Committee chairman Ajay Sthapit, reconstruction will proceed according to the criteria set by the authority. "Some 40 artisans will be engaged in the reconstruction at present though the number can increase as per requirement," he added.
Kathmandu Metropolitan City-1 ward chair, on the occasion, assured of necessary support required for rebuilding of the historic pond. The authority has formed a Rani Pokhari reconstruction, monitoring and coordination committee under the coordination of authority executive member Chandra Bahadur Shrestha for management and coordination of the reconstruction process.
The foundation and walls of Rani Pokhari will be reconstructed through the consumers committee, while the reconstruction and beautification of Bal Gopaleshwor Temple will be done through construction companies, according to the authority.
The Cabinet meeting on January 28 had handed over the responsibility of rebuilding Rani Pokhari, Bal Gopaleshwor Temple and other archaeological structures within the premises to the authority.

NRNs urges to introduce open, non-restrictive investment law

The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) has asked the government to make foreign investment law more open, competitive and attractive compared to other countries in Asia in a bid to lure foreign direct investment (FDI).
AS he government has tabled Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer (FITTA) amendment Bill at the House, the Nepal Policy Institute (NPI) – a global initiative of NRNA – has recommended the government not to make restrictive law rather draft laws that could encourage more investment.
"Nepali diaspora and people of Nepali-origin should be treated equally in matters related to investment," chairman of NPI Khagendra Raj Dhakal, said adding that the policy should allow NRNs to make investments with 100 per cent ownership of enterprises. "Likewise, the government should leave small and medium enterprise (SMEs) sector open for FDI to improve domestic employment, balance of payments situation and give a sense of economic security."
Citing that a long negative list for investment will directly affect FDI, the Institute has said such restrictions must be removed. "Investments should not be restricted in sectors other than those related to national security and defence."
The NPI has also asked the government not to expropriate or confiscate foreign owned enterprises through administrative measures. "The foreign investors should be allowed to repatriate foreign currency investment, profit from investment and principal of loan obtained during course of business operations," the Institute's recommendation reads, adding that other issues regarding import exemption on machinery, equipment, plants and advanced technology required to establish enterprises, allowing settlement of disputes to be conducted in foreign land, effective monitoring and implementing mechanism of policies are also crucial for FDI.

15th five-year plan targets 9.4pc annual growth

The government is preparing to unveil a five-year periodic plan – after a gap of 12 years – targeting 9.4 per cent economic growth per annum.
"However, the economy can grow up to 10.1 per cent per annum in the next five years based on different scenarios, according to the preliminary draft of the concept paper of the 15th five-year plan. "The country can achieve economic growth of between 9.4 per cent and 10.1 per cent every year in between fiscal years 2019-20 and 2023-24."
The draft also envisions agriculture sector average growth at 5.6 per cent per annum in the next five years while the industrial sector is targeted to grow by average 17.1 per cent per annum. "Likewise, the services sector is expected to witness 9.9 per cent growth per annum in between fiscal years 2019-20 and 2023-24," the draft reads, adding that the contribution of the services sector in the gross domestic product (GDP) can reach 57.6 per cent by fiscal 2023-24. "The contribution of the agriculture sector and industrial sector in the national GDP can reach 22.1 per cent and 20.3 per cent, respectively.
The preliminary draft of the concept paper of five-year plan (fiscal year 2019- 20 to 2023-24) with the country’s development vision and growth target is prepared by the National Planning Commission (NPC).
The government had last introduced a five-year periodic plan in 2001, which lasted till 2006. From 2006-07 – after the peace accord between the government and then Maoists – the government had introduced only three-year interim periodic plans on four occasions.
The 15th five-year periodic plan – with a slogan of ‘Generating Prosperity and Happiness' – has also targeted $12,500 per capita income  the end of next 25 years. It also envisions Nepal to be a developed country in next two-and-half decade.

Architect of social security programme, Adhikari no more

Architect of the elderly allowance and local level empowerment programme former deputy prime minister and finance minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari breathed his last at Dhumbarahi-based Hospital for Advanced Medicine and Surgery (HAMS) today at 9.35pm.
Adhikari (82) – who was undergoing treatment for heart and respiratory problems at HAMS – is survived by his wife and three daughters.
HAMS Hospital – issuing a press note – confirmed the news late in the evening. "We are very sad to announce that Bharat Mohan Adhikari, who was undergoing treatment at this hospital for the last 23 days, has passed away at 9:35 pm today,” the press note reads.
"Adhikari breathed his last at 9:35 pm," HAMS in its press note further reads, adding that Adhikari died due to multiple organ failure. "Though, his condition had improved a few days ago, his condition began to deteriorate three days ago."
Earlier today afternoon, the hospital - in a statement -- has also said that Adhikari had developed symptoms of multiple organs failure.
The senior NCP leader Adhikari – who also served as deputy prime minister twice – was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for the past few days following lung and heart-related complications.
Adhikari – a four-time finance minister – was a permanent resident of Morang district and the brother of former prime minister Man Mohan Adhikari. Born in Bhramarpur of Mahottari on May 4, 1936, he was a four-time member of parliament from Morang district. During his political career, Adhikari also worked as the then CPN-UML’s deputy parliamentary party leader and transportation minister.
However, he was popular – during his tenure as the finance minister in the cabinet of prime minister Man Mohan Adhikari in 1994 – for introducing the 'Aafno Gaun Aafai Banau' programme, a development programme aimed at developing villages across the country, giving them the authority to select local projects on their own. Under the programme, Adhikari allocated Rs 500,000 to each Village Development Committee (VDC), though the local bodies used to get money through the district bodies earlier.
Though the first elected communist government lasted only nine months, Adhikari's popular programme including the senior citizens social security programme was a policy departure as it started the realisation of the government's responsibility towards its senior citizen. Adhikari decided to provide Rs 100 as a monthly allowance to each citizen aged above 75 in his budget in 1995. Though opposition Nepali Congress (NC) party initially opposed Adhikari’s policy, saying that a distributive budget policy won’t help the country’s development in the long run as it would only be a huge burden on state coffers and suck huge resources, all the successive governments including the ones led by NC couldn’t stop the programme. The elderly allowance programme – over the time – ha widened the areas of the social security schemes introduced by Adhikari, and increased the allowance. The elderly allowance has become Rs 2,000 as of the current fiscal year.
Likewise, the 'Aafno Gaun Aafai Banau' programme was also a signature programme of the then CPN (UML) – currently Nepal Communist Party (NCP) – that has been cashed by the party even in the last election after almost two decade-and-a-half to gain the overhealming majority to form the incumbent KP Sharma Oli led government. Though the programme was a counter to Nepali Congress that had allocated 80 per cent budget to the village, it gave power to the local authorities to exercise their right to develop their place by themselves.
Adhikari also played an important role as a member of the constitution drafting committee in 1990 and was actively involved in drafting the Interim Constitution of 2007.
A liberal and moderate leader, Adhikari became full-time party leader after the 1990-movement, shifting his base from his native town of Biratnagar to Kathmandu. In Biratnagar, Adhikari used to practice law.
A Standing Committee member in then CPN-UML, Adhikari has announced his retirement from active politics in 2014 as the party – during the 9th General Convention – put 70 years of age limit to be involved in the active party politics.

AEPC can access $50 million in GCF funds

Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC) has been awarded a $50 million grant from Green Climate Fund (GCF) for running low-carbon climate-resilient development projects and programs in Nepal.
The board meeting of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) – held on February 26-28 in South Korea – has approved the accreditation application for Nepal’s first national direct access entity, AEPC.
"This outstanding milestone for climate finance in Nepal is the result of the strong commitment of AEPC – the leadership of Nepal’s National Designated Authority (NDA) – to the fund, reads a press release issued by the Finance Ministry.
The programme is funded by the Government of Germany (BMU) and jointly implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
"This is a landmark moment for Nepal whereby a federal government institution has been accredited for direct access with the largest global fund on climate change," according to joint secretary at the Finance Ministry Shreekrishna Nepal, who is also NDA focal person at the ministry.
"This will help Nepal access and mobilise resources for low-emission and climate resilient projects,” he added.
"Despite the rigorous and stringent process, the centre was able to gain accreditation status with GCF," executive director of AEPC Madhusudan Adhikari said, adding that they are committed to accessing resources as per adaptation and mitigation priorities, aligned with our country’s national development strategies.
The government, through the NDA, had nominated four national entities through open competitive process by inviting applications to gain accreditation status. At the moment, National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), Nepal Investment Bank and Town Development Fund are still in the pipeline for accreditation with GCF.
The GCF will help Nepal access the necessary finance to address climate change issues in the country, according to resident representative of UNDP Nepal Renaud Meyer.