Govt will take initiatives to raise minimum wage of workers: PM

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that needful initiatives will be taken to increase the minimum wages of workers in the informal sector.

Addressing a program organized on the occasion of the 135th International Labor Day in Kathmandu on Wednesday, Dahal said efforts will be made to increase wages. “Although the economy is passing through challenging circumstances, we earlier increased the minimum wages of workers. I assure you that continuous efforts will be made to increase the minimum wages in the future,” he said. “I am also hopeful that employer organizations will also be flexible in increasing the minimum wages of workers.”

Dahal also said legal grounds are being prepared to consider social security not only as the responsibility of the federal or provincial governments but also of the local units in line with the spirit of the federal democratic republic. He said legal grounds have been prepared to bring informal sector workers in local units under the social security scheme through the Social Security Fund.

Dahal also said the Social Security Fund will be developed as an institution providing social security for all Nepali citizens. He assured that there will be no lack of coordination and assistance from the government’s side to extend the social security program to all citizens.