Government Committed to Collaborate with Private Sector for Internal Employment and Skill Development: Labour Minister
June 16, Kathmandu — The Ministry of Youth, Labour and Employment held extensive discussions with private sector stakeholders to enhance the effectiveness of workplace-based training and apprenticeship programs slated for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84. During the discussion led by Minister Ramjee Yadav, the ministry cited the recent declaration of the coming decade as the ‘Decade of Internal Employment Promotion’ and emphasized its commitment to working with new policies and perspectives on labour and management.
The ministry outlined plans to implement more than 12 major internal employment programs in the next fiscal year, including workplace-based apprenticeship training initiatives. It also mentioned efforts to streamline the existing ‘Shram Sansar’ online portal.
Private sector representatives participating in the discussions voiced concerns that the government often views them merely as ‘witnesses.’ Addressing this, Minister Yadav stressed the need to regard the private sector not as spectators but as ‘partners’ and affirmed the government’s commitment to collaborating with them to foster internal employment and skill development. Representatives from the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Nepal Industrial Association, and Nepal Chamber of Commerce emphasized that training programs must be demand-driven and underscored the importance of active private sector involvement from curriculum design to certification.
The talks also highlighted the need to align specific skill-based training with market demands and available human resources, facilitate electricity connections for small industries that host trainees, provide tax and rent concessions, reward employers who maintain gender balance in employment, and simplify licensing procedures for women entrepreneurs. With many Nepali youths aspiring to work abroad, participants discussed strategies to attract and organize employment opportunities within the country.
The meeting included Minister Yadav along with federal parliamentarians Vidushi Rana and Anushka Shrestha. High-level officials from the private sector, such as FNCCI President Anjan Shrestha, Nepal Chamber of Commerce Director General Devendra Lamichhane, Ministry Joint Secretaries Pitambar Ghimire, Hemraj Tamang, Baburam Bhandari, and other senior private sector representatives were also present. Participants from various sectors concluded that ensuring employment after training and completing the full employment ecosystem require unified collaboration between the government and private sector on a shared platform.
