Nepal Moves Toward Worker Protections with Major Labour Law Reform Push Backed by ILO

Comprehensive legal review identifies urgent reforms needed to protect domestic workers and eliminate workplace violence and harassment.

Nepal is moving closer toward major labour rights reforms following the release of a comprehensive legal gap analysis supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO), which identified critical changes needed to align the country's laws and policies with key international labour standards protecting domestic workers and ensuring workplaces are free from violence and harassment.

The review, conducted in collaboration with the Government of Nepal and a broad coalition of employers, workers' organizations, development partners, and civil society groups, focuses on aligning Nepal's legal framework with two landmark international conventions: ILO Convention No. 189 on decent work for domestic workers and ILO Convention No. 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work.

The findings highlight both progress and significant legal and institutional gaps that continue to leave many workers — particularly women and informal sector employees — vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, discrimination, and unsafe working conditions.

According to the ILO, the legal analysis provides a practical roadmap for reform by identifying areas where legislation, policies, enforcement systems, and institutional mechanisms can be strengthened to meet international labour standards and provide more effective protection for workers across both formal and informal sectors.

Speaking at the validation workshop, Numan Özcan, ILO Country Director for Nepal, stressed that the importance of ratifying the conventions lies not only in legal recognition, but in the real-world improvements they could deliver for workers.

"Progress toward ratification is important. Its real value will be seen in the difference these Conventions make in workers' lives," Mr Özcan said.

"Everyone has the right to a world of work free from violence and harassment. Domestic workers sustain societies, yet their work remains too often invisible and undervalued."

He added that the reform process is ultimately about creating practical and inclusive labour protections that reflect the realities faced by workers on the ground.

"It is about shaping practical, inclusive reforms that strengthen labour rights and reflect realities on the ground," he said.

The proposed reforms are expected to have far-reaching implications for Nepal's labour market, particularly for domestic workers, who remain among the country's most vulnerable and underprotected groups.

Domestic workers — the majority of whom are women employed informally — often lack access to basic labour rights, including fair wages, safe working conditions, legal protections, social security, and formal grievance mechanisms.

Under Convention No. 189, domestic workers are entitled to rights comparable to those enjoyed by workers in other sectors, including reasonable working hours, occupational safety protections, freedom of association, and access to justice.

Meanwhile, Convention No. 190 establishes the universal right to a workplace free from violence and harassment, including gender-based violence, bullying, intimidation, and abuse.

The legal gap analysis identified several key areas where Nepal can strengthen worker protections and improve accountability mechanisms.

Among the anticipated benefits of reform are:

• Stronger protections against workplace violence and harassment

• Safer and more dignified working environments

• Improved legal recognition for domestic workers

• Better access to justice and remedies for victims of abuse

• Increased accountability for perpetrators and employers

• Greater gender equality and social inclusion

• Improved labour market participation for women

• More productive and resilient workplaces

Experts say the reforms could be especially transformative for women workers, who are disproportionately represented in domestic and informal employment and often face systemic discrimination and limited legal recourse.

The review also highlights the economic importance of decent work reforms, noting that safer and fairer working environments contribute to stronger productivity, improved workforce retention, and more sustainable economic growth.

Labour specialists increasingly argue that labour protections and economic development are closely interconnected, particularly in emerging economies where informal work remains widespread.

The workshop brought together representatives from the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS), employers' associations, workers' unions, civil society organizations, and development agencies to validate the findings and identify priority actions for reform.

Mr Gagan Singh Bist, Under Secretary at MoLESS, facilitated discussions during the session, where participants exchanged views on strengthening labour protections and aligning Nepal's legal framework with international standards.

The validation process is considered an important step toward building consensus among stakeholders and ensuring that future reforms are both practical and enforceable.

The ILO confirmed it will continue providing technical support to the Government of Nepal as the country advances toward ratification and implementation of the two conventions.

This support includes collaboration with employers' and workers' organizations, civil society, and government institutions to strengthen legal frameworks, improve enforcement capacity, and support policy implementation.

Analysts say Nepal's reform efforts come at a critical moment as countries across South Asia face growing international scrutiny over labour standards, workplace safety, gender equality, and protections for informal sector workers.

Strengthening labour rights is also increasingly viewed as essential to achieving broader national development goals, including poverty reduction, social inclusion, formalization of employment, and sustainable economic growth.

The ILO says Nepal's ongoing reform process demonstrates a broader commitment to ensuring dignity, safety, and protection for all workers regardless of sector or employment status.

Through the validation process and planned reforms, Nepal is positioning itself to build a more inclusive labour market that better protects vulnerable workers while promoting fairer and more resilient economic development.