Rights bodies urge Nepal to fully implement the law prohibiting bonded labour

Kathmandu, July 24

National and international rights bodies have urged the government of Nepal to fully implement the Kamaiya Labour (Prohibition) Act, 2002, to ensure no bonded labour practices exist in the country.

Although it has been 20 years since the act came into effect, the law has not been fully implemented as different forms of bonded labour such as harawa-charawas exist in the southern plains of Nepal, according to them.

In a joint statement, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) and the Community Self-Reliance Centre (CSRC) have called on the government to implement inclusive and non-discriminatory social protection programmes to ensure the rehabilitation of the harawa-charawas.

“Debt traps, unjust working conditions, discrimination, and years of systematic neglect by the government have delayed much-needed interventions for the harawa-charawas,” the statement reads, “This announcement must be complemented with effective rehabilitation programmes, land ownership on a priority basis, and gender-sensitive social protection mechanisms at the minimum.”

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