Legal vacuum exposing women in entertainment sector to exploitation

KATHMANDU: Singer Sharmila Kandel has worked in Nepal’s entertainment sector for the past 14 years. Originally from Baglung, Kandel currently performs at the Gambesi Dohori Sanjh in Thamel. Through this profession, she has been able to support and educate her two daughters in Kathmandu.

Dohoro Sanjh refers to restaurants featuring live performances of Dohori, a traditional Nepali folk music where two groups of men and women engage in a singing duel.

Like Kandel, many women in Nepal earn their livelihood through the entertainment industry. Some perform on stage, while others sing or act in shows both at home and abroad. However, most of them refrain from openly discussing their profession and often feel hesitant to identify as entertainment workers due to societal stigma.

Stakeholders say it is difficult to address the grievances of these women even if they face abuse or exploitation.

The entertainment sector includes establishments such as dohori restaurants, dance bars, cabin restaurants and massage parlours. Many women working in these venues face workplace violence, including sexual and labour exploitation. “Due to our vulnerable position, we cannot speak up or come forward openly,” says Kandel.

In the past, Kandel herself avoided disclosing her profession. Her outlook changed after coming into contact with organisations like Raksha Nepal, which advocate for the rights of entertainment workers. With their support, she found the courage to file complaints against violence and exploitation. “It was not easy to gather this much courage. I have endured many struggles. Society’s attitude towards this profession still has not changed,” she said.

A major barrier to seeking justice is the lack of formal identification or documentation. “We say we work in the lok dohori sector, but we don’t have ID cards that link us to specific institutions,” Kandel explained.

The entertainment sector includes establishments such as dohori restaurants, dance bars, cabin restaurants and massage parlours. Many women working in these venues face workplace violence, including sexual and labour exploitation.

Kandel has visited various NGOs and police offices to report cases of exploitation. Organisations such as Raksha Nepal and Bishwas Nepal are working to support female workers in this sector. However, Kandel says that little has changed.

“There is a perception that women take up this profession because it is easy, but no one can survive here without genuine talent and skill,” she said.
Victims are calling for specific laws to regulate the entertainment industry and for access to facilities available to workers in other sectors.

Advocate Rasna Dhakal told Himal Press that discussions on this issue have dragged on for years without resolution. “We have seen the nature of crimes evolve, but not the law. There is still no legislation specifically targeting the entertainment sector,” she said. “Even though there are provisions in the constitution regarding labour rights, there are no laws addressing the realities of this field.”

Inspector Krishna Basyal from the Human Trafficking and Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police said many rescued women and children are reluctant to file complaints against their employers. “They fear that filing a case could cost them their job and leave them with no alternative,” Basyal explained. She added that the complaint registration process is also riddled with complications, as some business owners deny employing the victims, and some claim the complainant was never an employee. Confirming the age of the victims is often difficult, Basyal added.

Advocate Krishna Prasad Marasini said many women who are divorced, evicted from their homes, or denied shelter elsewhere are forced to take up work in entertainment venues.

The issue of violence against women extends beyond the entertainment sector. Seema Raut, a counsellor at the One-Stop Crisis Management Centre and a nurse at Bir Hospital, said complaints involving women lured into such jobs under false promises, among others, have been increasing. “Lack of women’s empowerment and poverty are key factors behind this vulnerability. The government must focus on creating jobs and reintegration opportunities within the country,” she said.

Raut added that women can earn for themselves if they are empowered. “They wouldn’t fall into these exploitative situations. But we must first address the root causes,” Raut added.

Advocate Krishna Prasad Marasini said many women who are divorced, evicted from their homes, or denied shelter elsewhere are forced to take up work in entertainment venues. “While we have laws for victims of domestic violence and rape, there is no legal provision addressing the unique challenges faced by workers in the entertainment sector,” he said. “In some cases, their children remain undocumented and deprived of citizenship and other rights.”

Although the Supreme Court issued a directive in 2008 for a regulatory framework to govern the entertainment sector, Advocate Manju Marasini said it has not been implemented. “Although there is a mechanism for registration of such establishments, but most business owners avoid entering the legal system altogether,” she added.

Manju also said that society views this sector through a prejudiced lens and wrongly assumes that it is all about sexual exploitation. “In reality, people here are making an honest living by showcasing their skills. This industry must be dignified and regulated, and that requires legal reform. The court has already ordered action,” she added.