Kathmandu: In the fiscal year 2023/24, significant measures were taken against 35 industrial institutions and employers found guilty of using child labor, a practice deemed illegal under current regulations.
The Labor and Employment Office in Hetauda carried out a comprehensive monitoring operation, inspecting 95 industries to ensure compliance with labor laws. As a result, those found in violation were collectively fined over Rs 400,000.
Chhanda Narayan Shrestha, chief of the Labor and Employment Office, reported that during the enforcement period, 35 children were rescued from exploitative working conditions in these industries. The majority of violations were committed by larger industrial establishments, which were also found to be lacking in proper appointment letters, fair remuneration, and adequate safety measures.
The offending industries have been instructed to overhaul their management practices and work environments to uphold labor rights and eliminate the use of child labor.
In addition to the enforcement actions, the government has been actively monitoring hotels, industries, and workshops for compliance. Complaints regarding unpaid wages were also addressed, with 79 complaints received over the past year. Of these, 60 were resolved through negotiations, while 19 cases remain under review.
The Labor and Employment Office has also launched an awareness program targeting child labor issues in the districts of Makwanpur, Chitwan, and Sindhuli to further combat this pressing problem.