LOCAL NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

Informal sector marred by poor working condition

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, March 12: Over 90 per cent of the people in Nepal work in the informal economic sector where they are more apt to face poor working conditions due to gender discrimination, lack of social protection, low productivity and hazardous work.

This was revealed at a two-day Tripartite Workshop on the Informal Economy organised by the International Labour Organisation that began here today, a press statement issued by the ILO said.
Addressing the programme, member of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Dr. Yuvaraj Khatiwada said, "The conditions of the workers in the informal sector are characterised by not only the dismal working conditions, but very often also by their appalling living conditions.

"The conditions of work include non-recognition of work performed, very low incomes, long hours of work, insecure and unsafe work, no benefits, no leave or holidays, no accident or other benefits, sexual harassment and no unionisation to protect their rights."

The national and local government should adopt measures and policies to officially recognise the existence of workers, especially women, in the informal sector, said Dr. Khatiwada. He suggested measures such as extension of social security schemes; implementation of legislation and laws on fair wages and incomes; and development of mechanisms by which workers in the informal economy can be provided access to and control over productive assets and resources. The ILO first coined the term the 'informal sector' about 30 years ago to describe the activities of the working poor who were working very hard, but who were not recognised, recorded, protected or regulated by the public authorities.

Leyla Tegmo-Reddy, Director, ILO said, an ILO report of 1991 on "Dilemma of the informal sector" had called on the ILO to help promote or develop an informal sector as a convenient, low-cost way of creating employment. "But it is impossible unless there is an equal determination to eliminate progressively the worst aspects of exploitation and inhuman working conditions in the sector." In June 2002, the ILO conference had discussed the informal economy, and contrary to expectation, it continued to expand even in the developed countries. The 2002 conference had adopted a series of conclusions on actions that were to serve as guiding principles.

Today's workshop was a follow-up to the International Conference to "bring the discussion to the national level in Nepal". "We consider this meeting as essential for reviewing an integrated approach and the roles of various partners in the world of work in Nepal in promoting decent work in the informal sector," Reddy said.She also said that the ILO was already focussing much of its work in relation to vulnerable, socially excluded groups including the former Kamaiyas, child labourers, Dalits, disabled persons and ethnic groups.On the occasion, Rajendra Shrestha of the FNCCI said, "The informal sector can serve and prove fruitful in the social and economic sectors if it is well-managed".

Regarding the rapid expansion of the informal sector, the government should take better notice of the outcomes of the seminars to ensure implementation of important recommendations. Bishnu Rimal, secretary of Gefont, speaking on behalf of the trade unions, demanded that the government ensure proper security to the people working in the informal sectors. The workshop attended by about 40 participants from different sectors will discuss papers presented by senior specialists on the informal economy.

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