Meaning of Labour

The term labor refers to the effort of human beings to perform the activities of production of goods and service. It includes both mental and physical effort. In Nepali society there are various types of labour. They are:

  • Domestic labour: - It is related to domestic activities such as caring, cooking, nurturing, washing, and cleaning houses. Especially women and children involved in these activities but they do not get any value of labour in cash or they get minimum wage.
  • Contractual labour: - It is a type of labour in Nepali society where two parties’ employee and employers are agreed to produce things or services in certain condition. It is based on patron-client relationship. It is also divided into: Jajamani system, Kamaiya, Haliya, and Lagi-lagitya.
  • Wage labour: - It is a type of labour where wage is given in cash to the workers by the employer. It is mostly found in industrial society. Generally, in this labour the value of labour is brought in cash and wage is paid according to the nature of work and experience.

Employment status in Nepal

According to the population structure of Nepal 512 Thousand individuals are added in labour market of Nepal every year. There is a large gap between demand and supply of labor. The growth of skilled manpower and creation of employment is not satisfactory. According to economic survey 2074/75 More than 1,300 youths leave the country every day. Around about 4300 thousand foreign employees who left country from formal and informal means are categorized as 1.5 percent skilled, 24 percent semi-skilled and 74.5 percent unskilled. According to latest labour survey the unemployment rate is 11.4 percent and semi-unemployment rate is 30 percent.

 Country-wise detail of Foreign Employment (current fiscal year firs eight month) 

Country

Male

Female

Total

Quatar

66462

2634

69096

Malaysia

75325

2173

77498

Saudi Arab

28697

670

29367

UAE

35025

4374

39399

Kuwait

9100

924

10024

Baharain

3195

208

3403

Oman

1569

199

1768

Lebanon

10

3

13

Israel

25

58

83

Afghanistan

1018

1

1019

Japan

493

25

518

Others

7431

3724

11155

Total

228350

14993

243343

Domestic and Foreign Employment

Domestic Employment:-  The employment of hired workers by private households for the performance of tasks such as housecleaning, cooking, child care, gardening, and personal service. It also includes the performance of similar tasks for hire in public institutions and businesses, including hotels and boardinghouses.

Foreign Employment:- It means going from one country to another country for job and to earn. money. Foreign employment of people has been a usual phenomenon since the beginning of. human civilization. The Foreign Employment Act 1985 is the first legal document to address foreign labour migration of Nepalese people beyond India. This act is guided to manage, control and regulate economic interest of Nepalese people who have interest to join foreign employment.

The reasons behind migration are almost same in Nepal as in other parts of the world. Poverty, limited employment opportunities, deteriorating agricultural productivity, and armed conflict are some of the motives behind international labour migration.

In Nepal, foreign employment and remittance inflow have been issues of concern over the last two decades. in this connection foreign employment was estimated to be 4.36 million up to the fiscal year 2016/17 (except India) and 56 percent households had received remittances in the fiscal year 2010/11.

Challenges 

  • Slow rate of internal employment opportunities
  • Lack of Security in foreign employment
  • Lower level utilization of remittance
  • Low wages in internal employment
  • Lack of diversification in employment opportunities.
  • Unsatisfied growth of skilled manpower
  • Lack of social security of laborer.
  • Lack of proper policy and strategy of government to the labour sector etc.