Nepal is advancing significant legal reforms to create safer, more inclusive workplaces free from violence and harassment. Supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO), a comprehensive legal gap analysis has identified areas where national laws and policies can be strengthened to align with ILO Convention No. 189 on domestic workers and Convention No. 190 on eliminating violence and harassment in the world of work.
The review highlights that while some protections already exist, reforms are needed to close gaps in legislation, enforcement, and institutional mechanisms. These changes aim to ensure stronger protections for workers, particularly women and those in vulnerable or informal employment. ILO Country Director Numan Özcan emphasized that ratification of these conventions will have real value when they improve workers’ lives, recognizing domestic workers’ contributions and ensuring dignity and safety at work.
The reforms are expected to deliver lasting benefits, including safer workplaces, recognition and protection for domestic workers, improved access to justice, greater gender equality, and more resilient and productive workplaces. By addressing structural gaps, Nepal can reduce discrimination and empower women in the labour market.
These efforts also support Nepal’s broader development goals by promoting decent work, formalization, and inclusive economic growth. Strengthening protections against violence and harassment is seen not only as a matter of rights but as essential for building a fair and sustainable labour market.
The ILO is providing technical support in collaboration with government, employers’ and workers’ organizations, and civil society. A validation workshop brought together stakeholders to identify key gaps, build consensus, and prioritize reforms. Through this process, Nepal reaffirms its commitment to ensuring dignity, safety, and protection for all workers across both formal and informal sectors.
