Labour minister Bhandari calls for leveraging domestic employment opportunities
LALITPUR: Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Sharat Singh Bhandari has called for leveraging domestic employment opportunities.
At a discussion on "Promotion of Internal Employment and Reintegration of Returnee Workers" organised by his ministry in Lalitpur on Sunday, Labour Minister Bhandari spoke of the need to dispel the despair regarding the bleak prospects of employment in the country.
Stating that there are many opportunities, the Minister claimed that employers in the country are struggling to find locally suitable employees, often resorting to hiring workers from abroad.
On the occasion, Bhandari said that the government is working to create a labour market where aspiring employees can secure a job based on their qualifications and skills. "This effort will be linked with the Nagarik App for greater accessibility," he said, highlighting the government's ongoing efforts to reintegrate returnee workers and engage those seeking employment.
He added that his ministry is working towards job creation by identifying opportunities within the country in addition to facilitating foreign employment.
Also speaking at the event, National Planning Commission's Vice-Chairman, Prof Dr Shivaraj Adhikari, underscored the need to create jobs in productive sectors. He called for investment in potential sectors such as agriculture, construction and tourism. According to him, it would take more than Rs 323 billion of investment to achieve the objectives outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals.
Likewise, the Ministry's Secretary, Krishna Hhari Puskar, identified the shortage of skilled human resources as the major hurdle in the employment sector. He questioned the attitude of shunning or feeling ashamed of working within the country while not hesitating to perform similar work abroad. He argued that such an attitude has contributed to unemployment in the country.
Similarly, the Social Security Fund's Executive Director, Kabiraj Adhikari, shed light on the Fund's role in providing health security and financial support after the retirement of contributors.
The Domestic Employment Promotion Division Chief, Krishna Prasad Sapkota, expressed his confidence that the suggestions sought from participants on issues relating to labour market management, creation of an industrial environment, management of the labour market information system and social security would be very useful for the ministry.
Returnee Network Nepal's President, Uttam Adhikari, urged the effective implementation of the "startup" project to engage and empower foreign employment returnees and ensure that their skills are utilised at scale.
By RSS
