Construction Sector Chairman Suggests Wages Could Reach NPR 50,000 for Skilled Workers Amid Labor Shortage

Kathmandu. Ravi Singh, Chairman of the Nepal Contractors' Association, stated that the remuneration for workers in the construction sector could reach up to NPR 50,000.

He mentioned an acute shortage of laborers in Nepal's construction sector, noting that there are good opportunities and attractive salaries for those willing to enter the field. According to him, the salary for workers specializing only in bridge construction can reach NPR 50,000 per month. Currently, most bridge workers are Indian nationals.

These workers are reportedly taking billions of rupees back to India as wages. Singh estimates that there are approximately 700,000 Indian workers in Nepal's construction sector alone. He attributed the dominance of Indian laborers to the government's failure to produce the necessary skilled manpower for construction-related work.

Chairman Singh stated, "A new government is being formed. The upcoming government must revitalize the economy. For that, laws and regulations must be made implementable. An environment must be created for Nepali brothers to work within Nepal. There are at least 700,000 Indian laborers in Nepal right now. They must be replaced. The government must provide skill-based training to Nepalis and guarantee employment. The government often introduces programs offering 100 days of employment per year, but this is limited to paper employment rather than providing actual jobs. While talking about providing 100 days of employment, it is necessary to provide them with training and instruction. The government needs to provide job training to unemployed Nepalis by linking with the private sector. It is not difficult to turn an unskilled laborer into a semi-skilled one. The minimum wage for semi-skilled laborers in Nepal could be between NPR 30,000 and 50,000. This is because someone working on a bridge could gain excellent experience by undergoing training for a hundred days. A bridge worker can gain experience in tasks ranging from tying rebar to filling stones. Currently, all studies are theoretical; they need to be made practical. Political commitment is necessary for this."

Singh further stated that the 100-day employment announced by the government through the Prime Minister Employment Program remains confined to paper. According to him, the next government needs to implement practical education and create an environment for labor within Nepal.