Government Warns Employers of Strict Action for Non-Payment of Minimum Wage

Kathmandu. The government has warned of strict action against employers who do not pay the minimum wage to workers.

Secretary of the Ministry of Youth, Labour and Employment, Dr. Deepak Kafle, warned that not paying the prescribed minimum wage to workers is against the law, and the government will take legal action against such employers.

He clarified this while speaking at the National Dialogue on Business and Human Rights held in Kathmandu on Wednesday. Secretary Kafle stated that the government is working on labor standards to ensure the social security of workers.

He informed that the work is being carried forward with action plans with the objective of not allowing the human rights of workers to be violated. He stated that the government's clear principle is that social security should be ensured at the time of engaging in labor, so that the life of workers is protected even when they reach a state where they can no longer contribute labor physically and mentally.

Speaking at the program, he said, 'Every person must receive the minimum wage. Therefore, the Government of Nepal has ensured the minimum wage. Employing someone for less than that wage is against the law. And in that, there is a possibility of various clauses of the law being attracted. Similarly, a worker must be ensured social security. While engaged in labor, there is a matter of security of their business, their labor, and the security of the business. And even after their life, after they have left that labor, or when they reach a state where they can no longer contribute additional labor physically and mentally, social security must be ensured at the time of engaging in labor for the protection of their life.'

Similarly, Secretary Kafle claimed that the government is equally committed to ensuring that the human rights of Nepali citizens who go abroad for foreign employment are not violated.