Public Perception on Dignity of Labour in the Context of Youth Employment in Provinces 2 and 5

Findings

Our findings suggest that the dignity of labour is challenging to uphold in a society where the labour market is segregated and certain occupations are stigmatized. The ideal job that educated youths deem fit for them is behind the desk. Youths would rather opt for low-paying jobs in schools than take up jobs in the agriculture sector or livestock farms that are usually valued less even though they may offer better paychecks. FGD youth respondents were of the opinion that they would rather choose to migrate than engage in a work sector that is neither respectable nor gainful.

The labour market is fraught with a negative social and cultural mindset where work is looked at in binaries of good and bad, big and small, and desk work and labour work. This is specifically true in the agriculture, livestock and construction sector. Overall, respondents were noted to have opined that sustainable work coupled with better incentives and social protection such as insurance, bonuses, wages, and better working conditions would help change such perceptions and ensure the dignity of labour.

In the absence of a suitable job market, youths in general showed apathy towards a system where patronage, connection and nepotism and favouritism determined their successful career trajectories. Although, youths opined that this may not always be the case they were aware that it was very much in practice. Additionally, youth respondents from Province 2 pointed out that due to industries shutting down the scope of local employment has narrowed down for educated youths.

Despite several problems associated with PMEP, one of the positives that were recognized was the participation of women in the programme in Tilottama Municipality in Province 5 where 70 percent of candidates out of the 200 applicants were females. This data indicates that women want to contribute to the domestic labour workforce. Youths opined that the government should design PMEP that accommodates expectations of the educated youths. Promoting youth entrepreneurs, providing innovation, and incubation centres were some of the ways in which the government could engage youths in the programme while ensuring dignity of labour.

Gender disparity in terms of female workforce participation and paycheck continues to prevail in the workplace. It was noted that the professional relationships between men and women was viewed in the light of suspicion and negative scrutiny. Even though there were various entrepreneurial trainings offered to both men and women at provincial level due to lack of resource and funding women were especially not able to put the skills and training in practice. Loans were not easily accessible to women, which eventually discouraged them from actively participating in the workforce. Women respondents said workplaces need to accommodate the needs of women by setting up breastfeeding rooms at workplaces.
However, there were notable changes in how youth entrepreneurs viewed dignity of labour as opposed to educated youths. They associated dignity of labour with one’s ability to work hard, take leadership and innovate that would not only lead to self-employment but also creation of jobs. They were of the opinion that an educational degree should not be an obstacle in starting enterprises.

On the other hand, workers in the informal sector found themselves without bargaining power, oppressed and unjust. They were reported to have been overburdened with work with little to no say in any matters related to their labour rights including wages.

Working definition of dignity of labour

Dignity of labour means being able to partake in the work/profession that is respectable and free of harmful and negative societal norms, stereotypes and beliefs where equal wages is protected irrespective of one’s sex, gender, caste/ethnicity and geographical location, and that which not only suits one's education qualifications but also ensures gainful remuneration in addition to social protection that enables him/her to live a meaningful and respectable life among his family members, friends and community.

Recommendations

Careful and creative messaging about employment programmes such as PMEP should be done to not only reach and cater to the targeted population of the programme but also to minimize the occupational stigma attached to work included in such initiatives.
Create awareness about various government employment and skill building programmes including other technical and financial support available at the local level in order to cater to the right section of the population.
Diversify employment programmes in order to tap the potential of educated youths for long-term sustainable employability while promoting dignity of labour.
Incentivize all professions with health and safety insurance, bonus, decent wages, and social security to ensure dignity of labour to break the negative social and cultural mindset especially related to certain professions/sectors.
Introduce and incorporate ‘dignity of labour’ in school curriculum at all levels of the education system in Nepal to promote and inculcate positive understanding of different work/professions.
Create programs and platforms to match people’s employment skills and education qualifications with suitable and relevant work opportunities/industries/sectors, etc. at local, provincial and federal level.