Kathmandu. International Workers’ Day is celebrated on May 1 every year. Most of the workers in Nepal are still deprived of basic rights on this day, which is celebrated in honor of the rights, rights and contributions of workers.

More than 80 percent of Nepal’s workers are employed in the informal sector. Workers in construction, agriculture, transport, domestic work, etc., are forced to work without any explicit labor agreement, social security or insurance benefits.

Fixed working hours, minimum wages, and a safe workplace have not yet been ensured for workers in the informal sector.The livelihood of daily wage earners is uncertain as they will earn income only if they get work.

Geeta Lama, 55, who has been living in the holding center in Kirti pur after the demolition of the landless squatters in Thapath ali, 55, says, “Until now, I was a squatter but I had my own house, now it is not even there, it is difficult for us daily wage earners to getwork.”Even if you get a job, you can’t do it physically. It is difficult to work for 1,000 wages per day, the price has increased, the food is needed, the 1,000 people have to wear it. ’

Bijay Magar, who has been living in the holding center from the squatters’ settlement, is in a similar situation.“Now I have a smile to earn a living every day. The daily income is meagre. Inflation has increased . He said, “The fare of the public bus is similarly expensive. There is nothing cheap in the market. I earn Rs 1,000 a day, but I don’t always get work. ’

The compulsion to go out in search of work in the morning and run the household in the evening with the wages in hand is not only the reality of Geeta Lama and Bijaya Magar but still thousands of workers. On the day they don’t get work, they have trouble feeding their families.

Tek Bahadur Sunar and Bir Bahadur Basnet, who come to Kathmandu from Salyan and carry heavy loads at Kuleshwor Fruit Market, are in a similar situation.They carry heavy loads on a daily basis, are without earnings } on a day when they are not working, they have the responsibility of fulfilling all the responsibilities including the maintenance of the family, education, etc. So they can’t leave this miserable work.

Minimum Wage, Social Security and Insurance Out of Access

The minimum wage set by the government has not been implemented in practice. There are widespread complaints that workers are being paid less than the fixed wages, especially in the construction and small industries sector. Despite repeated voices raised by trade unions, monitoring and implementation seem to be weak. Similarly, despite the provision of social security fund, many workers in the informal sector have not been able to join it. The main reasons for this are temporary employment, lack of information and negligence of the employer. As a result, workers are completely unsafe in case of accidents, illnesses or unemployment.

In addition, women workers are hit by low wages and double wages in domestic work, agriculture and small industries.Similarly, the workers who have returned from foreign employment or migrated within the country are also trapped in the cycle of unstable employment.

The rights of workers have not been ensured in practice because the rights of workers are limited to paper.Another challenge is the inability of workers to organize and have a weak voice.

On the occasion of International Workers’ Day, there is a need to go beyond formal programs and slogans and take concrete initiatives to solve the real problems of workers.Experts say that it will be difficult to achieve the goal of prosperity without ensuring respect for workers, fair wages, social security and a safe workplace.