KATHMANDU: Minister for Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, Nawal Kishor Sah Sudi, stated that labour exploitation, injustice, inequality, and invisibility remain the collective experiences of those working in the informal sector.
Speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural session of the two-day “Climate Change and Decent Labour Campaign–2025” held in Kathmandu today, Minister Sudi emphasized the need to ensure constitutional rights such as the right to dignity, equality, labour, women’s rights, and the rights of informal sector workers—most of whom are women and belong to marginalized communities.
He asserted that, “It is the collective responsibility of the government, civil society, and workers themselves to create an environment where these rights are realized in practice.”
Highlighting that labour rights are not only a matter of human rights but also of economic justice and equality, the Minister cited data showing that over 85 percent of workers in Nepal are engaged in the informal sector, with women comprising more than 90 percent of that workforce.
He stressed that progress toward achieving sustainable development goals, including equality, will remain incomplete unless labour rights are guaranteed, decent work is ensured, and climate justice is upheld.
Minister Sudi also shared that the government is collaborating with civil society organizations, workers’ groups, and the international community to amplify the voices of workers and address their concerns. He called on workers to further unite and strengthen their collective voice in the struggle for their rights.
Santosh Pariyar, a member of the Law, Justice, and Human Rights Committee of the House of Representatives, noted that May 5 holds historical significance as the birth anniversary of Karl Marx. “If we truly wish to transform society, we must amplify the voices of women, Dalits, ethnic communities, and the working class,” he said.
Likewise, Dr. Surya Prasad Sharma Dhungel, a member of the National Human Rights Commission, acknowledged the ongoing exploitation of workers in the informal sector. Referring to a worker who had been in the informal economy for more than 20 years, he urged that the voices of informal workers must be represented in all forums, including Parliament.
Kusum Devi Thapa, a member of the Agriculture, Cooperatives, and Natural Resources Committee, pointed out that informal sector workers are among those hardest hit by the climate crisis. She pledged that the committee would cooperate with informal sector groups to implement the conclusions drawn from the campaign.
The two-day campaign has been jointly organized by Nepal Mahila Ekata Samaj, Youth Advocacy Nepal, and ActionAid, with support from 53 different organizations.
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