KATHMANDU: A two-day gathering of youth activists, informal sector workers, farmers, civil society representatives, and government stakeholders is set to begin on Monday under the banner of Campaign Hackathon 2025.
The event is a joint initiative by ActionAid Nepal, Nepal Mahila Ekata Samaj (NEMES), and Youth Advocacy Nepal. It will focus on two of Nepal’s most urgent challenges: climate change and decent work.
According to NEMES representative Bhagavati Adhikari, the Hackathon seeks to create an interactive, inclusive, and creative space for dialogue, collaboration, and solution-building around climate justice and the rights of informal sector workers.
The Hackathon aims to bring together organizations advocating for climate action and informal labor rights, to co-develop strategic solutions and build campaign momentum through concrete policy commitments.
Key demands from the informal labor sector will be highlighted during the event, including calls for fair and minimum wages, safe and violence-free workplaces, occupational health and safety measures, job security, and comprehensive social protection.
Special emphasis will be placed on the rights and needs of informal women workers, including the demand for gender-responsive public services to reduce the unpaid care burden.
Participants will also advocate for inclusive platforms that amplify the voices of women, youth, and children from climate-affected communities in shaping climate policies.
Other priorities include the integration of climate-resilient infrastructure, disaster preparedness, and sustainable livelihoods into government plans to protect vulnerable populations.
At a press meet on Friday, organizers emphasized that over 80 percent of Nepal’s labor force is engaged in informal employment—often without contracts, social protections, or workplace safety—leaving them exposed to exploitation and vulnerable to climate-related and economic shocks.
Women and marginalized groups face disproportionate challenges, including wage gaps, gender-based violence, and lack of access to secure livelihoods.
The event is being held under the theme: “Solidarity Towards Demanding Climate Justice and Decent Work in Nepal”, based on the belief that climate justice and dignified labor are not separate issues, but are deeply interconnected through the everyday struggles of people across Nepal.
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