In Kathmandu, Nepal, informal waste management workers often face precarious working conditions, including lack of formal employment contracts, social security, and protections against workplace hazards. These workers are exposed to low wages, job insecurity, and limited safety measures, with gender disparities and low awareness of rights further increasing their vulnerability.
Through the Promoting Rights and Social Inclusion through Organization and Formalization (PRS) – Phase 2 Project, ILO Nepal has been supporting the Solid Waste Management Association of Nepal (SWMAN) and its 65 affiliated private companies to improve safety, decent work, and gender-responsive practices in the sector. On 15 December 2025, the ILO Country Director, Mr. Numan Özcan, visited two companies—Tarkeshwor Sarsafai Tatha Watawaran Samrakshan Pvt. Ltd. and Nepsemyak Sewa Pvt. Ltd.—to assess occupational safety and health practices, welfare facilities, and progress in formalizing employment conditions.
The visit involved site observations and discussions with workers, providing first-hand insights into their working conditions, challenges, and achievements. Mr. Özcan emphasized that social security is a fundamental right and a legal obligation for employers, underlining the importance of enrolling workers in the Social Security Fund (SSF) as a key step toward formalization and social protection. The intervention included newly developed OSH guidelines that provide practical procedures for waste collection and segregation to improve workplace safety and hygiene.
Stakeholder validation sessions were conducted for managerial and mid-level staff, and SWMAN committed to a Code of Conduct against violence and harassment, distributed across all member companies. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has been provided to nine companies, and efforts are ongoing to ensure all companies are formally registered and issue employment contracts in compliance with labor law. These guidelines also strengthen oversight by local governments.
The visit highlighted improvements in compliance, particularly among subcontracted workers who are often informally employed. At Nepsemyak Sewa Pvt. Ltd., 14 out of 22 subcontracted waste segregators have been enrolled in the SSF, reflecting increased awareness and adherence to health and safety standards, such as using masks while segregating waste.
Through ILO support, SWMAN and its members have enhanced awareness of violence and harassment prevention, promoted gender-responsive workplaces, provided welfare facilities, and improved employer compliance with social security enrollment. The association has committed to further formalizing the sector and engaging in social dialogue with subcontractors to ensure protection for all workers, regardless of contract type.
This initiative underscores ILO Nepal’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding the livelihoods, safety, and dignity of informal waste management workers. By supporting private companies in adopting formal, safe, and inclusive practices, the intervention has strengthened collaboration between employers and workers, increased rights awareness, and contributed to safer, healthier, and more dignified workplaces.
