Under the labour reform package, the government seeks to amend the Labour Policy and introduce the Unemployment Benefit Act, Social Security Act, Bonus Policy and Labour Commission Act.

The Ministry of Labour and Transport Management (MoTLM) may not be able to present the Labour Reform Package at the parliament by January 29 as committed by Minister Sarita Giri. Ministry sources have said that no serious efforts have been made so far on this front. The minister made such a commitment at Sunday’s meeting of the parliamentary Labour and Finance Relation Committee. In an effort to reform the country’s labour sector, the ministry started working on LRP some three months ago. Under the package, it seeks to amend the Labour Policy and introduce Unemployment Benefit Act, Social Security Act, Bonus Policy and Labour Commission Act.

“The ministry hasn’t carried out any serious work to prepare these laws on time,” said an official, adding that the ministry has not even completed 50 percent work. “The parliamentary committee’s directives and the minister’s commitment are impractical.” Immediately after work on LRP began, some of the key officials involved in it were transferred and it took more than two months to replace them.

“In this condition, how can the laws be presented at the parliament within a month.” Nabin Pokharel, under secretary at the ministry, said the ministry can prepare only two laws—Labour Act and Social Security Act—by the deadline.

“We have almost completed the Act on social security and once the board meeting of the technical committee is held, the Act will get final approval from the ministry,” said Pokharel. The ministry had formed the technical committee some two months ago with representations from the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Law and Parliamentary Affairs and Ministry of Finance. According to Pokharel, the committee has almost completed the drafting of Labour Act and the recommendations provided by International Labour Law (ILO) are to be incorporated in the draft. The ILO on November 14 had given its recommendations to be included in labour related laws.

“Once, ILO’s recommendations are included, the Labour Act will also be completed, but we can’t complete the other laws by the stipulated time,” said Mahesh Baral, director at the ministry, adding that the drafting of other three Acts are yet to be started. MoLTA officials said at least five months are required to incorporate ILO’s recommendations in remaining three acts and hold discussions with stakeholders, including the private sector. Trade union leaders, however, said the government is cheating workers by delaying the labour laws.

“No matter how much time they may take, we want the new labour laws to continue the facilities being given to workers and institutionalise new facilities recently committed by employers and government,” said Achut Pandey, general secretary of Nepal Trade Union Congress.

Published on: 10 January 2012 | The Kathmandu Post