Decade Declared for Promoting Domestic Employment and Safe Migration

Minister Ramji Yadav stated at the 114th International Labour Conference that Nepal is advancing the coming decade as a decade for promoting domestic employment. He emphasized the need for clear agreements, occupational safety, algorithmic fairness, and data privacy to protect workers engaged in the digital and gig economy. Additionally, he informed that the Nepal government is drafting an integrated national ‘Care Economy’ policy for the first time and has submitted the Forced Labour Protocol for parliamentary approval. May 8, Kathmandu.

Youth, Labour and Employment Minister Ramji Yadav highlighted that the upcoming decade will prioritize safeguarding workers in the digital economy, ensuring safe and dignified migration, and upholding workers’ rights. Addressing the session of the 114th International Labour Conference held in Geneva, Switzerland, he noted that technology, artificial intelligence (AI), climate change, labor mobility, and new production models are rapidly transforming the global labor market.

Minister Yadav warned that failure to leverage these changes as opportunities could lead to increased inequality, wider skill gaps, and insecurity for workers. He underscored the need to strengthen tripartite cooperation among the government, employers, and workers to promote human dignity, social justice, and decent work. He also disclosed that the government is investing more in AI infrastructure, digital startups, and human capital development, aiming to expand digitalization and remote work.

Speaking on the rights of workers involved in the digital and gig economy, Minister Yadav emphasized the necessity of clear employment agreements, occupational safety, algorithmic fairness, and guarantees for data privacy. He affirmed that the welfare of migrant workers remains a top government priority and stressed the importance of collaboration with destination countries, employers, and international partners throughout all phases of the migration process.

Minister Yadav reported that the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947, and the Forced Labour Protocol, 2014, have already been submitted to Parliament for ratification, underscoring Nepal’s zero-tolerance stance on labour exploitation and forced labour. He connected the future of work with the future of youth, explaining that the ministry’s restructuring has been conducted with this vision in mind.