Demand to raise the minimum wage of workers to 25,000

CPN-UML MP Kshitij Thebe has demanded the government to raise the minimum monthly wage of workers to Rs 25,000. Speaking at the meeting of the Industry and Commerce, Labor and Consumer Welfare Committee under the House of Representatives, he said that due to rising prices, it is becoming difficult for workers to live a normal life with the current wages. MP Thebe said that the minimum salary of the workers should be periodically reviewed and the wages should be determined based on the workers' labor, living expenses and market price increase. He said that without ensuring the economic security of workers, the production, service sector and employment market cannot be strengthened.

He also stressed on the need to make social security fund more effective and mandatory. Mentioning that many service provider organizations are still reluctant to join the social security fund, he suggested the government to introduce tax breaks, concessions and incentive programs to bring such organizations into the fund. He said that the social security program should be implemented in practice by giving priority to the safety of women workers. He said that the problems of the workers will not be solved by keeping the program only on paper, he said that the policy should be implemented so that the workers get direct benefits.

MP Thebe also opined that the state should increase investment in skill development to create jobs in the country. He said that there is still a situation in Nepal where skilled manpower such as Kaligad and barbers need to be brought in from outside. According to him, youth can be attracted towards entrepreneurship if an environment is created to invest in start-up businesses through 'A' class banks in every municipality or ward level. He claimed that if investments, skills and employment can be effectively linked, millions of youths can be employed in the country in the next five years.

Thebe said that schemes such as the Prime Minister's Employment Program should also be made more result-oriented. He emphasized that the government should implement an employment policy linked to skills, capital and the market to end the situation that forces the youth to go abroad.