Miscellaneous
Informal sector finds no space in Labour Act
Problems of sexual exploitation, poor and irregular pay, and contract-less jobs of women working in the informal or the entertainment sectors look unlikely to be addressed by the Labour Act.Problems of sexual exploitation, poor and irregular pay, and contract-less jobs of women working in the informal or the entertainment sectors look unlikely to be addressed by the Labour Act.
The amended act to be tabled in the Cabinet for approval this month has completely left out workers of these sectors. The act commended for ensuring work contract, sound working condition, working hours, holidays in favour of employees and which also forbids sexual harassment at the workplace has left out a huge section of women working in the informal sector suffering from these problems.
“It is still not too late, I urge the lawmakers to work out a way to incorporate the informal sector in the Labour Act as women working here face double exploitation from both the employers and the police due to lack of specific law,” said Kabita Magar, president of Women for Women Forum, an organisation working for the rights of women working in the informal sector.
An estimated 40,000 women are working in the informal sector, which includes those working in restaurants and massage parlours, among others, in the Capital alone.
The Act has set aside a separate clause for child labour, domestic workers, constructions, tourism, transportation, tea estate and specifically pointed out their working conditions.