KATHMANDU: The Second National Conference of adult entertainment sector (AES) workers concluded in Kathmandu issuing a 14-point declaration.

The conference issued a 14-point declaration. The declaration calls for a friendly environment at the workplace devoid of exploitation and discrimination; provision of contract letter, minimum wage and other facilities as provided by the labor law; child-labor-free AES; and maintaining a record of AES workers, and endorsement of AES monitoring guideline by local bodies, among others.

A participant representing a dohori restaurant said that those working at night have a hard time as they do not get any leave. “If we are unable to go to work due to illness, the employers do not pay for that day,” she said.

The workers also expressed concern about the possibility of operating the AES businesses for 24 hours. In that case, the concerned businesses should have enough workers to replace those working at night, they said.

Another worker said, “At dance bars and a dohori restaurants you are paid on the basis of the number of clients you please. That is why female workers are vulnerable to sexual harassment,” she said.

The workers also complained of low pay and various forms of harassment at the workplace. A transgender participant said LGBTIQA people were highly discriminated against.

“It is difficult for us to get any decent job because the business enterprises only look for males and females, which is discriminatory,” she said, adding that they had to conceal their identities in order to be employed.

A participant who works at a party venue in Kathmandu said sometimes she ends up working for 13 hours a day. “My neighbors are suspicious of my job as I return home late from work,” she said.

The workers demanded an exploitation-free and dignified work environment. Bal Dev Tamang of the Trade Union Congress briefed the workers on the importance of joining a trade union. “Trade unions can pressurize the government to form and reform policies for various sector workers,” he said.

Laxman Tiwari of General Federations of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) suggested workers be proud of their work and be organized to claim their rights.

Kamala Parajuli, Chairperson of the National Women Commission (NWC) suggested the workers demand contract letters from their employers so that it would be easy to file a case in an event of exploitation. “NWC will hold a joint meeting with the AES workers, trade union representatives, and employers to resolve the problems of the workers,” she said.

The conference issued a 14-point declaration. The declaration calls for a friendly environment at the workplace devoid of exploitation and discrimination; provision of contract letter, minimum wage and other facilities as provided by the labor law; child-labor-free businesses; and maintaining a record of the AES workers, and endorsement of the AES monitoring guideline by local bodies, among others.

Biswas Nepal, a partner of USAID and UK aid-supported Hamro Samman Project of Winrock International, held the two-day conference that started on July 4, 2022. A total of 243 AES workers participated in the conference.