The Ministry of Labour and Employment (MOLE)/Department of Labour (DOL) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) jointly organized a half-day seminar on Youth Employment in Domestic Labour Market through the Labour Market Information and Employment Services (LIfE) project. The  KOICA supported LIfE project focuses on improving the quality of employment services through strengthened client orientation and capacity building of employment service centres and their officials, improving the collection and dissemination of labour market information and skill indicators and knowledge sharing under the ILO South-South cooperation framework.

The programme was organized to provide information on the current policies and practices in the agriculture, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors, identify major constraints for employment generation in the country, share successful practices and discuss the possible short and long term interventions to address the gaps in policies and practices, as well as develop result oriented specific actions in the sectors. 

The event included representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MOLE), Department of Labour (DOL), Department of Foreign Employment (DOFE), the National Planning Commission (NPC), Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT), Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Federation of Nepalese Small and Cottage Industries (FNCSI), Joint Trade Union Coordination Committee (JTUCC), Cottage and Small Industry Development Board (CSIDB), Federation of Construction Association Nepal (FCAN)  and  relevant experts. The seminar discussed ways to increase employment opportunities available to the youth through specific interventions.

In the opening address, Dev Raj Dhakal, the Director General, DOL emphasized the need to explore the hidden opportunities of employment through this venture. The event was then followed by a presentation from Prof. Dr. Govind Dhakal on youth employment policies and practices where he called for the need utilize the over 70 per cent of the population that is below 35 years of age. Naveen Adhikari then spoke on youth employment policies and practices in the manufacturing sector, highlighting the status of it. This was then followed by Dr. Pukar Malla’s presentation on youth employment policies and practices in the agriculture sector. His presentation highlighted the potential for job creation in the agricultural sector, with a specific focus on creating innovative agri-enterprises to boost youth employment. Dr. Ganesh Gurung was the fourth presenter who spoke of employment policies and practices in the infrastructure sector. He shared that a large percentage of infrastructure is still informal. He further elucidated on the need for more On the Job Trainings in order to address the skills mismatch. The presentations were then followed by comments and recommendations from Dr. Pushkar Bajracharya, Dipendra Thapa and Dr. Yubraj Khatiwada.

The event saw a lively and interactive discussion from the audience present. Towards the end of the event, Richard Howard, the Director of the ILO Country Office for Nepal, addressed the audience emphasizing that the ILO is ready to provide technical support where needed. He further shared that eight Employment Service Centres (ESC) have come into effect with support from the LIfE project. Dr. Swarnim Wagle, the Vice Chairman of the NPC gave his remarks highlighting the shifting characteristics of the global economy and the changes in Nepal as well. The event concluded with an address by Krishna Prasad Gyawali, Acting Secretary of MOLE, who asserted that there are unexplored potentials for jobs in the domestic market that warrant attention.