National
Jobless citizens to get sustenance allowance
The government has come up with a draft law to govern sustenance allowance for unemployed people, based on the constitutional guarantee of employment for every citizen.The government has come up with a draft law to govern sustenance allowance for unemployed people, based on the constitutional guarantee of employment for every citizen.
The draft Right to Employment Bill, registered at the Parliament Secretariat on Tuesday, requires the government to ensure every Nepali at least 100 days of work annually. Upon failure to provide work, the state has to provide sustenance allowance equal to a half of the salary fixed for a period of 100 days.
Basic payment for such employment will be fixed by the government. Currently the basic monthly salary determined by the government is Rs13,450. This makes it the right of every unemployed citizen to receive Rs22,416 in sustenance allowance every year once the law comes into force.
The bill, approved by the Cabinet last week, needs to be endorsed by the federal parliament before it gets the presidential seal. The bill provisions an Employment Service Centre (ESC) in every local federal unit to keep a record of all employed and unemployed citizens while the Central Directive Committee led by the minister for labour, employment and social security oversees the process across the country.
The law has also listed four roles of the three tiers of government in creating jobs. They provide information on employment opportunities, conduct skill based training, provide concessional loans, and promote entrepreneurship. “Citizens getting such support must work as directed by the respective ESC,” reads the draft law.
The legislation bars employers from sacking their employees unless when they commit unlawful activities.
One who gets sacked unlawfully can complain with the respective local government, which after investigation can even fine the employer while also getting the employee reinstated. Both the parties can appeal to the Labour Court if they are not satisfied with the local government’s decision.