Workers unaffected by public holiday (Photos)

KATHMANDU: While International Workers’ Day is being marked with enthusiasm around the world today, many workers in Nepal remain busy with their daily labor, seemingly unaffected by the occasion.

Observed annually on May 1, Labor Day is celebrated by labor unions and organizations affiliated with various political parties through rallies and programs across the country.

Despite these celebrations and the government-declared public holiday, the everyday lives and working conditions of many laborers show little sign of improvement.

Many workers continue their routines, driven by the need to earn a living, highlighting the gap between symbolic recognition and actual change.

A recent study by the Nepal Federation of Trade Unions (GEFONT) revealed that regular employment has declined by 11 percent.

The report notes that the effective implementation of the Labor Act is increasingly difficult as the proportion of regular workers in enterprises continues to fall. Nepal’s workforce now largely consists of regular, task-based, temporary, and part-time employees across various sectors.

Photos: Nepal Photo Library