Results in Nepal in 2024

Labour rights: In total over 66.000 people, of which 31% women and 13% under 35 years, were reached by services from the Nepali trade unions to promote labour standards.

Social Security: Over 133.000 workers (35% women and 44% under 35 years) were reached by the services of the trade unions to ensure coverage of workers in the contributory Social Security Fund.

Vocational Training: 68 people (88% women and 60% below 35 years) received vocational skill training on tailoring, embroidery and self-employment from NTUC.

These activities from 2024 and others since 2022 contributed to the following impact:

Better coverage: More than 560 thousand workers have enrolled in the contributory social security fund which trade unions helped set up.

Better work: Nearly 800.000 workers have better working conditions: public teachers were re-instated, legal assistance led to factories improving, increased leave and festival allowances, self-organized welfare funds, better OHS policies and committees established, especially for tea plantation workers. 140 workers also improved their income after the vocational skill training.

Some results of advocacy for better social protection by INSP!R NEPAL

What INSP!R NEPAL did in 2024:

• Raised awareness of social security schemes of 17.500 people (43% women, 54% under 35);

• Provided training to over 1.000 members;

• Mobilized over 6.500 members (34% women, 58% under 35) and met with close to 100 policy makers to jointly advocate for better social protection. 

The joint advocacy under INSP!R Nepal by CSOs and trade unions from 2022 - 2024 contributed to the passing of four regulations:

1. The Integrated SP framework and Leave No One Behind, which aim to provide the 28 million Nepali citizens with better and more coherent coverage;
2. Shock Responsive Social Protection guidelines, which provides additional rights in case of shocks to the current 3,6 million Social Security Assistance beneficiaries;
3. Inclusion of informal, self-employed and migrant workers in the contributory social security fund, providing extra rights to 13 million workers and their families;
4. Other amendments of the SSF extended coverage and increased amounts to spouses, children education and healthcare. 

Country partners: GEFONT, NTUC, ITUC-NAC, SPCSN

Budget for 2024: 111,529.88 €  

Donors: WSM, Belgian DGD

Duration of the program: 2022-2026

Platform drivers in Nepal organising

 “We have been focusing on how to organize app based drivers, and we now have 800 to 900 members in only 6 months. This is new, we do this mainly through personal contacts, but it is very hard to gather and reach them, they are very busy and scattered. We need material to share with them, to explain what the union can do for them. For now, we focus on individual cases and assist them with problems, but we need to start collective bargaining, towards the companies, the city authorities and the social security. For now, we can only try to find solutions for problems ourselves, like help each other in case of accidents, or talk to traffic police if somebody got fined, but we need to start speaking in a strong, collective voice!”

“My friend told me to start working as driver. I had to take a loan to buy a bike, and it took me over two years to reimburse it. Every day I earn around 10€ but I just can’t manage to save anything. We need to buy a private insurance through our platform, which covers the driver and the passenger in case of a road accident, with our medical expenses covered up to 100.000NPR or 670€. No repairs to the motorbike are covered, so this we have to provide from our own pocket. Another issue is that sometimes, when we arrive for pick up, the passenger is carrying a baby or a small child and will insist to bring it, and we have no other choice. But if an accident happens, the child will not be insured.

We are not provided with any uniform or sign from our platform that we are drivers, so the police do not recognize us as workers or that it is our job. We get fined, sometimes without knowing the reason. Sometimes the union can help us with that. We really want them to help us. The city officials provides no facilities for us: we are chased if we have to stand and wait for clients, there are hardly any public restrooms or places we can get drinking water. There is also tensions with other, not-app taxi drivers who sees us a competitors, even in the trade union and this has even led to protests and demonstrations.”

Nepal context in 2024

 

WSF in Feb. 2024

In 2024, Nepal made progress despite political challenges, with efforts to address key issues like transitional justice and federal implementation. The rise of the Rastriya Swatantra Party showed that the youth are becoming more engaged in the political process. Nepal’s economy grew by 3.9%, driven by tourism, hydropower, and agriculture, and is expected to grow even further to 5.1% in 2025. The government also introduced the 16th periodic plan, which aims to improve social protection and support vulnerable groups. 

In 2024, Nepal made significant progress in improving labour rights through key international agreements and policy reforms. The government worked on agreements with ten countries to protect Nepali migrant workers, focusing on fair recruitment and better working conditions. While challenges remain, particularly in the informal sector, efforts are underway to address issues like exploitation and unsafe working conditions. The government is committed to tackling problems like bonded labour and continuing to improve labour laws for a better future.

In 2024, Nepal made great progress in expanding social security, with around 3.8 million citizens receiving allowances, which is a 5.5% increase from the previous year. The government has focused on both contributory and non-contributory schemes, prioritizing the elderly and planning to extend benefits to the children of contributors. While there are some challenges like raising awareness and ensuring long-term sustainability, efforts to improve local-level implementation and develop sustainable funding models are key to making social protection more inclusive and effective for all.

NTUC observes International Youth Day 2024

On 12th August 2024, Kathmandu, the Nepal Trade Union Congress Youth Committee marked the International Youth Day, as sign of solidarity for prospect and progress for the youth internationally.

A short morning rally with banners and flags started from Maitighar Mandala and ended in New Baneshwor,w here it was followed by a street dialogue.  The slogan of this year's Youth Day was "From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development".  In the rally, NTUC high officials attending included the Senior Vice President, Vice Presidents, General Secretary, Deputy General Secretary, trade union leaders from different sectors and fields, with youth and women. 

The street dialogue, chaired by Dipendra Sunar, President of the NTUC National Youth Committee, had as its chief guest Nepali Congress Party Deputy General Secretary Jeevan Pariyar and youth leader and Member of Parliament. He stated: “We are very conscious about youth issues. Recently, we are very engaged in amendment of the bill related Electronic Transactions Act 2063 based on the changing context of Nepal to ensure the reliability and security of electronic transactions including the control of unauthorized use of electronic records or alteration in such records through illegal manner". Pariyar also promised to share youth issues in the upcoming Central Committee meeting of the Nepali Congress Party. 

President of Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC) and currently of JTUCC Yogendra Kumar Kunwar said “Nepal has been facing different challenges, with youth migration one of them. We should pay our more attention to control it by creating decent job in the country”. Solidarity Centre Country Director Luna Ranjit expressed her solidarity and joy to be part of the youth program of Young NTUC- Nepal.  President of Nepal Student Union, Dujang Sherpa said: “We are persistently lobbying for more than fifty percent youth representation in the policy making and other state structure.” He also ensured that this will be happening soon here. Various issues were raised by the participants like youth migration, the youth welfare fund and its implementation, skills and youth employment, which the guests answered.

My Journey as a Home Worker: Empowerment, Challenges, and Triumphs - Nepal 2023

My name is Laxmi Pradhan Shrestha, and I am a 44-year-old woman residing in Naikap in Kathmandu. As an active member of the Nepal Home Workers Union, affiliated with the Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC), my life has been a tapestry of struggles, growth, and resilience.

The Struggle for Workers’ Rights

When I first joined the home worker’s union, I was an ordinary woman from a regular family. Like many others, the income I earned through my work was barely enough to support my family. But being part of the union opened my eyes to the rights of workers. I realized that we deserved better—better wages, better working conditions, and better opportunities.

Balancing Union Work and Family

As I actively participated in various union activities—May Day rallies, meetings, and conferences—I faced a delicate balancing act. While I fought for workers’ rights, tensions arose at home. My in-laws, who lived with me, closely monitored my household affairs whenever I was away for union work. Conflicts ensued, but I persevered.

Skill Development and Income Generation

The union provided training on income generation and skill development. I seized this opportunity, eager to enhance my small-scale business. From knitting sweaters to making caps, spinning yarn, creating garlands, and preparing pickles at home, I honed my skills. Gradually, appreciation flowed in, and local shops started buying my products. I even sold my handmade items in Kathmandu’s bustling Asan area.

 A Positive Shift in My Life

With improved skills and growing confidence, my income began to rise. No longer solely dependent on my in-laws, I could better support my children’s education and maintain our health. Life took a positive turn. Recently, at the World Social Forum (WSF), our union supported me in setting up a stall to sell our products, providing additional income.

Navigating the Pandemic and engagement in Social Protection schemes

The COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges, but I adapted. My business weathered the storm, and I remained self-employed. The Nepalese government’s initiatives for social security among self-employed women like me give hope. We’ve expressed our desire to local government offices, advocating for our inclusion in these programs. Security and protection are essential for our well-being.

Looking Ahead

As I reflect on my journey, I am content. Yet, I look ahead with determination. The path to empowerment is ongoing. I dream of a future where self-employed women like me receive the support they deserve. Let us weave a stronger fabric of resilience, unity, and progress.

Context of 2023 related to social protection and INSP!R Nepal

Nepal's contribution-based social security scheme has been expanded to include workers in the informal economy, migrant and the self-employed. Previously, only workers in the formal sector and migrant workers were permitted to participate in the plan. Administered by the Social Security Fund, the plan covers eight of the nine branches of social security grouped around four key schemes: Medical care, health and maternity benefits scheme; accidental and disability protection scheme; dependent family protection scheme; and old age protection scheme. According to the Social Security Fund, 420,000 workers from the formal sector and 280,000 migrant workers have already enrolled in the contribution-based scheme. Nearly a million Nepalis left the country, including students, in 2023 to look for a better future abroad. The increased number of labour migrants has led to an increase in remittance inflow. But this growing remittance trend should no longer be considered a blessing. It reflects not only the failure of the country to provide for its people but also the waning hopes of the progressive youth. The drop in student numbers has alarmed not only colleges but the education sector as a whole.

Impact of climate change – Nepal’s climate vulnerabilities emerge from a combination of fragile mountainous topography and ecosystems, highly variable monsoon-driven hydrology, unplanned settlements, and a lack of resilient infrastructure. The unusual weather conditions deviating significantly from the reasonably expected is a strong indication of the effects of climate change in Nepal, and globally. A government report shows that 2023 was one of the worst years in Nepal for the environment with more than 5,500 incidents of forest fires. The United Nations Secretary-General’s visit to Nepal and his appeals to the global community for urgent action to protect the mountains and glaciers helped to draw global attention to the catastrophic consequences of climate change for which the country is not responsible. Nepal’s representation in the COP28 meeting and commitments of the government to deal with the impacts of climate change can be also taken as positive developments.

Pathfinder country for the new Global Accelerator for Jobs and Social Protection: to assist with the COVID 19 recovery, the UN launched a Global Accelerator, and Nepal is one of the Pathfinder countries where it will be initiated, which should involve civil society. To create decent jobs, expanding social protection and promote pathways for just transitions, the Global Accelerator will support the Nepali government with national strategies and policies; financing and enhanced multilateral cooperation.

Strength in numbers: achievements by the Nepali partners in 2023

Labour rights: In total over 80.000 people, of which 32% women and 16% under 35 years, were reached by services from the Nepali partners to promote labour standards.

NTUC reached 73.645 (30% women and 11% younger than 35 years) and GEFONT ensured 6.436 workers (50% women and 67% younger than 35 years) became more aware of their rights though campaigns and public outreach. Empowering young workers, GEFONT also organised 14 one day trainings for 1516 new members (657 female and 1351 under 35 years) in all 7 Nepali provinces.

Social Security: nearly 57.906 workers (46% women and 64% under 35 years) were reached by the services of the trade unions to ensure coverage of workers in the contributory Social Security Fund.

Vocational training: 72 people received vocational skill training on tailoring and embroidery, and self-employment from NTUC.

INSP!R Network
Advocacy: Over 99 policy makers were met , CSOs and trade union members showed their public support for 11 policy documents and position papers, as well as one research on the Integrated Social Protection framework. 

INSP!R Nepal and its CSOs and trade unions members contributed to two key regulations being passed:

1. New Social Security working procedures were passed to cover self-employed, informal and migrant workers.

2. Integrated Social Protection Framework: developed by the National Planning Commission, which tackles Shock Responsive Social Protection aspects, determines provincial and local level roles in social protection and ensures more harmony among the schemes and ministries involved. During the drafting, WSM partners were actively involved and beginning 2024, the Framework was endorsed by the Nepali Cabinet of Minsters.

Learning: In 2023, 471 CSOs and trade union leaders were trained to promote social protection, including through steering committee meetings.

Youth not leaders of tomorrow, but of today - GEFONT, Nepal 2023

“I have always been an activist and was part of the student union. When I joined KFC in Kathmandu, I looked to join the union, where most were very senior leaders, quite old. In the beginning this was difficult, because I felt so inexperienced but now I can say I am not only a member, but also a leader. We should not be considered the leaders of tomorrow, but already today.” 

Neel Kashi, Hotel Sector union 

Neel Kashi is a young worker and was not confident to speak in public. After his studies he joined KFC Hotel in Kathmandu. When he was in college, he was engaged in students' union work and very interested to learn about the union work in the hotel sector. He witnessed for instance a woman worker at KFC having issues with her working hours, was supported by the union, which negotiated for her. But since the union leaders were quite seniors, Neel was shy and lacked confidence. 

Neel participated in different campaigns from the union and also attended a training on labour rights and collective bargaining. He went to demonstrate in May Day Rallies and also different youth events organized by GEFONT. 

By his active participation in these different events, he started to understand the importance of unions in the workplace and and his confidence level went up. Now, he holds a leadership position in the hotel union and contributes to organising more young workers to join the union.

What INSP!Ring happened in Nepal in 2022?

Two major regulations were passed or published by the Nepali government regarding social protection for which CSOs and  trade unions had been advocated since several years:

1. the working procedures and guidelines for the Social Security Fund, that allow to enroll informal, self-employed as well as labour migrants. Pilot project under the SSF targets 4 sectors: transport, construction, home based, agricultural. These would be funded by contributions for the informal workers by contributing 11% of the salary from workers and 9,37% from the government. From April 2023, the guidelines also will include migrant workers. Trade union advocacy was very instrumental in achieving this result. They had consistently called for the inclusion of all workers under the Social Security Fund (SSF) since it launched in 2017.  On Nepal Social Security Day (27 November 2022), Nepali trade unions announced their goal of enrolling 2 million people over the next four years. 

2. the Integrated Social Protection Framework was formalized by the Nepal Planning Commission but is yet to be endorsed by the Cabinet. 

Some results of INSP!R NEPAL...

National level: The work of INSP!R Nepal and the other efforts by UNICEF and ILO Nepal contributed to a total of 386.695 workers registered end of 2022 with the Social Security Fund (SSF) and 17.581 employers. Compared to the 2019 baseline of the project with only 147.643 employees, this is a 160% increase and with 12.157 employers, an increase by 45%. Over 185 million € in contributions had been collected. 

Learning: In 2022, 76 CSOs and trade union leaders were trained to promote social protection, including through steering committee meetings. Over 81 policy makers were met and over 4.182 CSOs and trade union members showed their public support for 15 policy documents and position papers, as well as one research for better social protection and public finance management. Through traditional and social media over 725.000 citizens were made more aware of social protection schemes with a right-based approach. 

In October, a cross-country learning exchange was organized between Cambodia, where Oxfam facilitates a similar network of SP4ALL, and ten members from INSP!R Nepal on how to build inclusive national networks advocating for social protection floors and Public Finance Management.

Children left behind by the parents... and the system? Nepal, 2022

There is little as heart-breaking as an abandoned new-born baby. Maybe it was a teenage pregnancy, or a baby born out of wedlock, the reasons behind it might remain a mystery, but it happens, also in Nepal. In the hills of Helambu, to the north east of Kathmandu, where the snowy mountains can already be felt breathing down, these babies are kept for six months in a safe shelter run by a partner of WSM, MANK, giving the change to parents to come forward. Besides a multitude of other problems however, civil servants often don’t know how to deal with the administration of such children. What do we put as name for the child, even temporarily, or exact date of birth, or as guardians? While it is thankfully rare, it also means that these children, who need to be entered into a system, are often not processed correctly in the system, causing so many problems down the line that could have been avoided.

This was only one among many issues raised by civil servants in charge of making birth or death certificates in and around Helambu in February 2023. This workshop run by the municipality with Social protection Civil Society Network (SPCSN) and Mahila Atma Nirbharta Kendra (MANK) is just one of the activities part of the EU-supported project to improve Social Protection Floors and Public Finance Management in Nepal, where WSM facilitates the involvement of civil society, ensuring more people get better coverage.

Two people from the Department of National ID, and Civil Registration (DONIDCR) from Kathmandu explained how to do online data entry and deal for instance with migrating parents, or how to correctly encode people with disabilities. While this should be part of what the Nepali government does, without some support from civil society, this would not happen and more people would be excluded from a pension they are entitled to, or a scheme that should help them cope with shocks, just because of administrative hurdles or formalities.

Reason for choosing this testimony: the issue of non take up. A big part of promoting social protection is not just lobbying for schemes or more budget for social protection, but also to ensure that people who should be receiving the existing schemes are actually getting them. In many cases, ignorance of schemes but also bureaucratic hurdles and discrimination prevent people from receiving often crucial support they are entitled to. Hence, social protection facilitators that know the schemes in place and the procedures to obtain them can assist these often very precarious populations.

First and last name : Man Bahadur Mijar
Nationality: Nepali
Location: Sindhupalchowk
Family situation: family with one daughter 

Initial problem: Due to a child marriage, when their daughter was born, these parents could not receive the child nutrition allowance that should have been provided to them as Dalits.

Accompaniment of partner SPCSN: The social protection facilitator discovered this during house visit and managed to successfully register the birth of the girl child by bringing it to the ward and obtaining the mother's birth registration.

Change achieved: The child is now receiving a monthly child nutrition allowance of NPR 532 through the social assistance program. Many such cases were referred to the ward by the facilitator.

Some results by intervention strategy...

Labour rights: In total over 160.000 people, of which 31% women and 27% under 35 years, were involved in services by the Nepali partners to promote labour standards.

GEFONT ensured over 50.000 workers (35% women and 60% younger than 35 years) became more aware of their rights though campaigns and public outreach. Empowering young workers, GEFONT also organised 14 one day trainings to 300 new members in all 7 Nepali provinces, reaching 469 workers (157 female and 397 under 35 years).

Social Security: nearly 5.800 workers (42% women and 93% under 35 years) were reached by the services of the trade unions to ensure coverage of workers in the contributory Social Security Fund.

Vocational training: 60 people received vocational skill training on tailoring and embroidery, and self-employment from NTUC.

Bruise of Qatar

 In 2010 the FIFA World Cup 2022 was awarded to Qatar. In Qatar there are more than 2 million migrant workers, many of them coming from Nepal and India. Construction workers, domestic workers, drivers, hotel staff, fishermen, … Majority of them have been working in slavery-like conditions and housing in squalid, overcrowded labour camps. Until 2020, under the Kafala system, migrant workers were subject to their sponsor’s approval to go back home or to change jobs, which led to many abuses.

For many years the international labour movement has been campaigning against these practices.

In 2017 an agreement was reached in the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The State of Qatar agreed to put in place labour reforms to better protect the migrant workers.

GEFONT Nepal, NDWM India, WSM and ACV-CSC BIE are glad to present to you ‘Injury Time – Stories of Migrant Workers in Qatar’. This video documentary, directed by Hom Karki for Katha Nepal, a Nepal based production house which has previously produced the documentary ‘Bruise of Qatar’, tells you the stories of Nepali and Indian workers, looking for a better life beyond the border. 

Webinar: Financing shock responsive social protection systems, with Nepal presentation

One Nepali household in three suffers from some type of shock every year. We all remember the 2015 earthquake and the devastation it wrought. In its wake, the Nepali government set up a National Reconstruction Authority which took ages and much bureaucracy to support families to rebuild their houses. Meanwhile, every monsoon, landslides and flooding affect thousands of households. And then of course came COVID-19, which show more than half of the people lose their job or income, and almost 20% struggled to get food each day. 

Each time a crisis hits, a cry goes up to the government to assist those in need, and after a while, they scramble to put specific schemes in place to then support people. So food was provided during COVID, or if somebody passes away in a road accident, another scheme exists, or for loss of cattle or a house, but each time with varying authorities and paperwork.

In an ideal world, everybody would be covered and enrolled in social security, and we could use already these existing schemes to very quickly provide the affected households with support or cash transfers. But only one third of the Nepali households is enrolled in some sort of scheme... So how can we reach them all and quickly adapt schemes to reach everyone in an appropriate way quickly after a shock? 

This is what WSM Asia Coordinator Bruno Deceukelier and other distinguished panelists talked about in this 29 September 2022 webinar Financing shock responsive social protection, looking at various countries. Bruno presents INSP!R Nepal and the role of civil society and trade unions to advocate for adaptive social protection.

Speakers:

1. Doerte Bosse, Head of Sector for horizontal coordination, social protection and disabilities, European Union Directorate-General for International Partnerships
2. Céline Peyron Bista, SP&PFM Chief Technical Adviser, ILO
3. Nupur Kukrety, Social Policy Specialist UNICEF
4. Carlos Galian, Technical Officer, Social Protection Financing, ILO
5. Bruno Deceukelier, WSM Asia Coordinator
6. Getachew Berhanu Kebede, Social Policy Specialist, UNICEF

Moderator: Namrata Saraogi, Social Policy Specialist, UNICEF

As part of its knowledge exchange and communications initiative, the Programme is organizing a series of webinars to learn from country experiences and contribute to the international debate on innovative solutions to increase financing for strengthening national social protection systems to achieve universal coverage for all. This webinar was the second in a series, presenting concrete experiences on innovative options for financing building adaptive, responsive and resilient social protection systems. The webinar started with a presentation that provides insight into the Programme’s approach to strengthening social protection systems and making them more resilient to shocks. This was followed by country experiences.

You can watch the webinar on Youtube here and download the presentations here.

Article: The Landscape of Social Protection Programmes in Nepal

Nabin Maharjan and Saroj Acharya from WSM partner the Social Protection Civil Society Network with Sandhya Thapa wrote an article regarding social protection schemes in Nepal.

Stimulating social protection programmes have a greater impact on the lives of people. More than 80 social protection programmes are being implemented by the Government of Nepal. The development partners, bilateral and multilateral agencies have been assisting the government for a long time however, the gap is realised in the programme integration and lack of inter-ministerial cooperation to set the results. 12 federal ministries are regulating social protection programmes through provincial and local governments. Some programmes have similar nature and might have certain duplication in beneficiaries, thus leaving the eligible ones excluded from the support. Based on the information gathered from year-wise reports of federal ministries, government line ministries, and various development partners, set the priority areas to enhance sufficient programme strategies for better social protection coverage. This article highlights the federal social protection schemes and programmes that are scattered, the status of beneficiaries, social accountability, and identifies the challenges faced by beneficiaries and the justification of the requirement on an integrated social protection framework.

Read the full article here and download the full Journal here.

Nepal Social Protection Week: an opportunity to put the spotlight on social protection

Nepal celebrated its National Social Protection Week and the Social Security Day on the 27th of November, which was an excellent occasion to emphasize our recommendations and activities. This is part of the EU supported project of Public Finance Management for Social Protection Floors, implemented with the ILO and UNICEF, where WSM facilitates the involvement of civil society under the umbrella of INSP!R Nepal.

Meeting with the UN Rapporteur Olivier De Schutter

A delegation of INSP!R Nepal met with the visiting UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty, M Olivier De Schuttter on the 30th of November.  For more details on his official visit, click here.

Since M De Schutter is a strong supporter of social protection, this being one of the four priorities during this visit, we felt this would be an excellent opportunity to transmit our recommendations from civil society and trade unions, so these can be included in his official report to the Nepali government.

Based on the social charter we drafted and published last year, we updated our recommendations through ITUC-NAC and SPCSN, which are compiled here in two documents:

1. Recommendations on non-contributory SP here
2. Recommendations on contributory SP here

Over 100 stakeholders provided comments and feedback. The delegation was primarily composed out of SPCSN and the trade unions. M De Schutter listened carefully to our views and analysis related to the social protection in Nepal. Discussion topics included:

• Progress by the Nepali government in addressing key gaps in the social protection system, including access constraints, child poverty, informal workers, and data and evaluation gaps;
• Main obstacles to implement universal social protection in the context of the federalization of the country, including legal challenges brought to social insurance and devolution of social protection to lower levels of government;
• Fiscal space needed to make social protection universal;
• Main recommendations to government.

Many of our input can be found in the preliminary report of the UN Rapporteur released on the 9th of December here (social protection from page 13 onward). An extract: "The Government should ensure its skills and training programs reach the poorest families. While public works programs such as the Prime Minister’s Employment Program have considerable potential, in practice the program has yet to deliver on its promise of providing 100 days of work per person per year.

In the country, 80 percent of workers are informal, which exposes them to higher rates of abuse, largely because the Government lacks the ability to enforce minimum wage legislation in the informal sector. Although informal workers should also contribute to and benefit from the Social Security Fund, there is currently no plan to include them in the program.”

 

Local level Help desk

The Social Protection Civil Society Network (SPCSN) in coordination with our local partner Protection Nepal organized a help desk on social protection for two days in southern Nepal Kalaiya district. The objective of this helpdesk during the social protection week was to facilitate service delivery at the local level for the protection, upliftment and ensuring the rights of senior citizens, single women, people with disabilities, children, marginalized, poor and disadvantaged groups under social protection. An estimated 135 local community members were provided assistance regarding the legal provisions for social protection services.

Deputy Secretary of Kalaiya Sub-Metropolitan City Office, M Pralhad Varnawal, Officer Mustak Ansari, F Rekha Chaudhary, Section Officer, Women, Children and Senior Citizen, M Seshnath Paswan, Civil Registration and Social Protection Section, M Sunil Yadav, Account section, and M BrijMohan Kushuwaha, Chairperson, Protection Nepal and other beneficiaries took part in the inaugural ceremony.

Increasing awareness: articles published on social protection
As part of the National Social Protection week in Nepal, SPCSN ensured the publication in the national newspaper The Rising Nepal on 3 December 2021 of an article dealing with Social Protection in Nepal: Current Status & Major Concerns, written by Sandhya Thapa. The full article can be accessed here.

Other articles can be found here.

Nepal televises a series of debates on social protection issues

WSM partner in Nepal, the Social Protection Civil Society Network SPCSN, made a series of episodes which touch upon various aspects of social protection in Nepal. Produced through Kantipur and some also with the support of UNICEF and Save the Children, each episode lasts about 50 minutes, is in Nepali but often subtitled and can be watched through this playlist here: 

Illustrating the importance of social protection in Nepal: Meet Gopal

Gopal, 74 years old. “I have been receiving the old age allowance for the past four years. My wife also gets this grant, for which Sarita helped. My wife is a couple of years older than me, so she has been receiving the grant for longer. I didn’t know about my age, or what papers I needed. We needed to go look for my papers and find my birth date, so I would know when I could start getting this grant. Then, Sarita helped me to fill out the forms at the ward office. It was easy, not hard because she was there and she knew everything, and everyone.

At first, I used to go to the ward office to get the money, but then I opened a bank account, to get the money deposited there. The bank is very near, I take my bicycle to go there whenever the ward office member tells me the grant has been deposited. He lives just around the corner, so it is easy. He also made sure I got the money cash during the lockdown, when the banks were closed. There have never been any delays, I get it every four months.

I have another bank account which I use to get the money for the sugarcane I grow. But most of the money that I make from that, I give to my sons. I have five sons and all of them are married and went away, except the youngest who stays with me. He is a teacher and not yet married. My other four sons are all over, in Kathmandu, India and Saudi Arabia. I don’t expect financial support from them, I think once a boy is married and he has his own family, we should try not to be a burden to them. I try to give them all the money I make from sugarcane, and just live from the old age allowance for us, but it is very little. Even though my sons have jobs, they still can use some extra money because rent and education is so expensive, prices have really gone up.

I usually withdraw the entire amount when I get it, because we need it for food and my medication. My wife suffers from rheumatism, aching bones, and I have gastritis. I go through a bottle of pills almost every ten days, which costs me 200NPR.

While I was working, I paid taxes, of course. I think it is right that the government should support old people, because many times, their children can’t take care of them. We worked a lot and still continue to labour, but that is not always possible."

Testimony gathered during field visit with SPCSN in Province 2, with CFWA and Save the Children.

Provincial Launch: Strengthening Nepal’s social protection through sustainable financing

ILO Nepal, the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors and UNICEF Nepal have committed to strengthening social protection through sustainable financing at the provincial level

Today marks the provincial launch of “Improving Synergies between Social Protection and Public Finance Management” in Nepal, a critical step towards implementing the innovative project that aims at improving government’s social protection policies and financing strategies through enhanced coordination mechanisms. The project takes on an inclusive approach by reaching out to persons with disabilities, informal sector workers, and people vulnerable to disasters. 

The global project, launched on 17th November 2020 envisages working closely with government  by improving the design, implementation and financing of the social protection systems, and by ensuring social protection systems are gender-sensitive, disability-inclusive and shock-responsive. In Nepal, the project will work closely with Provinces 2 and 6. 

“The ILO Nepal has been working in close coordination with the Social Security Fund (SSF) to advance the government’s agenda on social protection. In the backdrop of how COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the significance of contribution-based social protection in the country, the project hopes to build the capacity of federal and provincial actors for effective and timely implementation of social security systems.” said Richard Howard, Director of the ILO Country Office for Nepal.

Social protection is a human right, and an investment with high social and economic returns– yet more than half the world’s population do not have access to any social protection , and coverage remains particularly low for vulnerable groups such as children, persons with disabilities, women and men who work in the informal economy and migrants. 

To get more people better coverage, to raise more money for social protection and spend it better, social movements like CSOs and trade unions have a key role to play. “Many of us have years of grassroot experiences and insights, strive to represent and advocate to ensure the inclusion of all. Through this programme, social movements can hopefully be involved meaningfully and structurally and ensure that no one is left behind.” stated Bruno Deceukelier from WSM on behalf of the GCSPF.

The event was opened by Hon’able Dr. Ram Kumar Phuyal, National Planning Commission, followed by introductory remarks from representatives of the partner organizations. Over 60 participants attended, highlighting the role of social protection in the context of Nepal and the COVID-19 pandemic.

This project is part of the European Union (EU)’s global Action on improving synergies between social protection (SP) and public finance management in the evolving federalization context. The Action is being implemented in priority partner countries : Angola, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Nepal, Paraguay, Senegal and Uganda. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), International Labour Office (ILO), and Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors (GCSPF) are key global partners. 

In Nepal, the project is being jointly led by UNICEF, ILO and WSM on behalf of the GCSPF, and is supported by EU and Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO).

Trade unions at work in Nepal during 2020

 WSM trade union partners continued their focus on the contributory social security fund and trying to ensure informal workers are covered. They joined a task force established by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security to address the pandemic’s impact on the labour market. All three trade unions also established disaster management committees during the lockdown to monitor the impact of the pandemic among their members, and offer assistance where possible. GEFONT’s rapid assessment study found 42% of enterprises did not pay out any form of remuneration from March 16 to April 15, contrary to the commitment made by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI).

Trade union support helped to survive lockdown

Hari, a taxi driver in Kathmandu: “I hardly made €10 or 1,500NPR a month with which I had to manage for my family of four to live. Due to the never-ending lockdown, the owner of my taxi couldn’t give me my salary. Life went from how to live on my salary to how to survive without it. I felt devastated. The first month we managed with some savings, but from the second month onwards, we had no money, no food to eat. As my son has tuberculosis, all our money went to his medication. Then, my mother got glaucoma and went blind…My trade union, NTUC, provided us with enough food to survive and also some medical facilities to my son. If they hadn’t helped us in this time of need, my entire family would have starved to death.”

INSP!R Nepal working on both contributory and non-contributory social protection in 2020

The trade union umbrella ITUC-NAC focused on better Occupational Health and Safety through advanced training in six sectors. They also promoted the contributory social security through training, advocacy and awareness-raising of over 25.000 workers. This contributed to an increase in enrolment in the Social Security Fund from less than 140.000 to 184.000 workers by end 2020.

Social Protection Civil Society Network (part of INSP!R Nepal) worked to ensure delivery of non-contributory social security schemes to citizens. After years of continuous advocacy by UNICEF and civil society, the Government of Nepal increased their universal child grant districts from 14 to 25 districts, out of a total of 77 districts.

Universal child grant helps family save

Devi, 27, mother of Arian: “We didn’t know about any grants or support from the government. I can sign my name but not much else. When we managed with support to register, we opened a bank account in my son’s name, and so the money gets sent there every four months. It’s good that the account is in his name, because that way we are reminded that the money is for things he needs. My husband works with heavy machinery, but it isn’t easy to find work nowadays. He spent three years working abroad in Malaysia as a driver. He made good money there but, during lockdown, he had to come back, and since his visa had expired, he had to pay for his flight back himself, which was expensive. He is looking to leave again, and I have to support him to do so, even though I will miss him. We also have to help our parents, since they need money to get by. My husband’s parents aren’t getting any support from the government, because they are still five years away from getting the old-age allowance. My father had a stroke, so he receives a disability allowance. I think our government gives these allowances to people in need to ensure a good life for Nepali citizens, which is the right thing to do. But I think the politicians make these schemes so people will vote for them again, so they can get re-elected.”

2020 Nepal output in numbers

In 2020, over 400.000 people were reached with WSM support through:

Labour standards:

1. Close to 200.000 workers, of which 16% women and 8% under 35 y/o, are made more aware of their rights through campaigns and public outreach.
   
2. 1.236 workers, of which 32% women and 55% youth, received basic training and 1.200, of which 25% women and 12% youth, advanced training (of leaders or of Trainers).
3. 270 workers, of which 15% women and 9% youth, benefited from legal assistance.
4. Advocacy: over 200.000 workers (70% women and 4% young workers) are mobilized at grassroots level to publicly demand their rights through demonstrations, petitions, May Day rallies etc.

Vocational skills:  55 people got skill training (82% women and 78% youth) in embroidery, tailoring etc.

• Nepal partners: GEFONT, NTUC, ITUC-NAC, SPCSN        
• Budget 2020: 87.813€
• Donors: DGD, EU INTPA
• Programme: 2017-2021