KATHMANDU: The government has determined a minimum wage of monthly Rs. 13,450 for a domestic worker. The Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security had raised the minimum wage to Rs 13,450 from Rs 9,700 effective from the fiscal year 2018/19.

Unfortunately, laborers still do not enjoy the minimum wage. The laborers working at the canteens inside Singha Durbar, the main administrative hub of the country, are deprived of the minimum wages.

Insisting anonymity, a worker of the canteen at the Parliament Secretariat said that receives just Rs 9, 000 per month.

A total of nine people are working at the canteen. They have been working for less than Rs 10,000.

He stated that the owner once threatened to sack him when he asked for a raise.

“Asking for a raise is literally like quitting the job. Anyone asking a salary hike will be forced to walk out quit instantly,” the worker complained. According to him, no worker receives the minimum wage at the canteen. Since staffers do not have bank accounts, they receive their remuneration straight from the owner.

Similarly, the laborers working at the canteen of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, too, do not receive the minimum wages. They are working for Rs 8, 000 to 9,000 per month at the canteen that serves food, tea, and snacks for a subsidized price.

A staffer working at the canteen said she receives only Rs 9,000 per month. They do not have an appointment letter, let alone a bank account. No one is receiving more than Rs 11,000, according to her.

More than 20 canteens are operating inside the Singha Durbar premises.

The ministry has vehemently warned of strong action against those providing less than the minimum wage determined by the government. However, the concerned body has been a mute spectator even though the violation of the minimum wage is taking place under its own nose.

Lal Mani Ojha, Director General at the Department of Labor and Occupational Safety, said that the department would take stern action against those companies failing to comply with the minimum wage regulations. However, no complaints have been lodged at the department so far, he said.

Salary through banking system mandatory

The remuneration of the workers should be reviewed and increased in accordance with Section 106 and 107 of the Nepal Labor Act, 2017 every two years. And the salary should be provided through banks.

No monitoring

The government had raised the minimum wage since July 17, 2018, in accordance with the Section of 106 and 107 of Nepal Labor Act, 2017.

However, the workers have complained that the regulatory body does not monitor whether the companies are providing a minimum wage to their employees through the banking system.

Director General Ojha said that they take action against companies based on the complaints filed by their employees.

However, no action has been taken so far as claimed by the Department. Scores of laborers are still deprived of minimum wages due to the lack of monitoring.