Kathmandu: Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Nawal Kishor Sah Sudi, has highlighted labour exploitation, injustice, inequalities, and invisibility as the pervasive issues affecting individuals in the informal sector. Speaking at the inauguration of the Climate Change and Decent Labour Campaign-2025, Sudi emphasized the need for enforcing constitutional rights such as dignity, equality, and labour rights, particularly for women and marginalized communities involved in informal work.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Minister Sudi underscored the collective responsibility of government, civil societies, and workers to create an environment where these rights can be realized. He asserted that labour rights extend beyond human rights to encompass economic justice and equality. Sudi pointed out that over 85 percent of workers are in the informal sector, with women constituting more than 90 percent of this workforce. He stressed that achieving sustainable development goals, including equality, is unattainable without guaranteeing labour rights, establishing decent labour conditions, and ensuring climate justice.
The Minister also announced ongoing government collaborations with civil societies, workers, and the international community to address workers’ concerns. He urged workers to unite and amplify their demands for rights.
Santosh Pariyar, a member of the Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee, highlighted the historical significance of May 5, the birth anniversary of Karl Marx, stressing the need to amplify the voices of women, Dalits, ethnic communities, and workers. Dr. Surya Prasad Sharma Dhungel from the National Human Rights Commission recognized the exploitation faced by informal sector workers, calling for their voices to be heard across various platforms, including parliament.
Kusum Devi Thapa from the Agriculture, Cooperatives and Natural Resources Committee acknowledged the impact of the climate crisis on informal sector workers and pledged the Committee’s support in implementing the gathering’s conclusions. The two-day event, organized by the Nepal Mahila Ekata Samaj, Youth Advocacy Nepal, and actionaid, received support from 53 organizations.