Kathmandu, June 7: The government has allocated a budget of Rs. 7.05 billion for the Prime Minister Employment Programme for the upcoming fiscal year 2022/23.

The government has planned to provide employment to 200,000 registered unemployed youth through the employment service centre every year.

The budget has proposed to modify the structure of the Prime Minister's Employment Programme to make it effective and provide jobs to more unemployed youth across the country.

Through this programme, employment will be provided to the unemployed and listed in the employment service centre in the agriculture and productive sector by identifying arable barren land in collaboration with the local levels.

The Prime Minister Employment Programme will provide a minimum of 100 days of employment to the unemployed person.

The government has reduced the budget for the PMEP for the upcoming fiscal year as compared to the current fiscal year. The government had allocated a budget of Rs. 12 billion for PMEP for the current fiscal year 2021/22.

Similarly, employment opportunities will be provided to at least 500,000 poor unemployed citizens by registering them as labour cooperatives at the concerned local levels and involving them in the construction of development projects of up to Rs. 100 million.

Arrangements have been made in the budget to provide various skill-based training through labour cooperatives as well as to make arrangements for the workers to be engaged in various project construction works on the basis of demand. It is mentioned in the budget that the records of all the trained people across the country will be listed.

The budget has proposed that a high level coordination committee will be formed under the leadership of the Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security to eliminate duplication and conduct skill-based training in a coordinated manner by making the employment related programmes being conducted by various agencies systematic and effective.

The National Labour Foundation will be formed to play a leading role in establishing good labour relations in industry and business, promoting collective bargaining, establishing reconciliation between employers and workers, enhancing effectiveness of labour inspection, study and research of labour market and skill, and development and welfare of workers.

The budget has maintained that foreign employment will be made safe, organised and dignified. It is mentioned in the budget that necessary skill-based training will be provided as per the demand of the destination country to increase the efficiency of the workers going for foreign employment.

The effectiveness of existing labour agreements will be studied and reviewed by identifying new and attractive destination countries for foreign employment.

Published on: 7 June 2022 | The Rising Nepal