The General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) has organized an interaction program with MPs on the Elimination of Forced Labor and ILO Protocol 29 on December 16.

In the program chaired by GEFONT President Binod Shrestha, CPN-UML Secretary and Parliamentary Department Head Yogesh Bhattarai said that forced labor is punishable and that it is necessary to eliminate forced labor for the construction of a civilized society. For this, he said, CPN-UML has always been in favor of decent wages and social security guarantees based on the contributions of workers and decent work. He also said that CPN-UML MPs will play a role in the parliament for the formulation, amendment and implementation of laws.

GEFONT President Binod Shrestha said that GEFONT has been working hard to eradicate forced labor in western Nepal for the past three decades, but with the changes in the current labor world, the nature of forced labor has also changed, and for this, discussions will have to continue in a new way. Vice President Bidur Karki presented a working paper on behalf of GEFONT in the program.

At the event, ILO representative Ram Sharmakar said that the Ministry of Labor is forming a committee to conduct a gap analysis regarding the laws that need to be amended.

CPN-UML central member and chief whip Mahesh Bartaila, whip Sunita Baral, and dignitaries Ishwari Gharti Magar, Bijula Rayamajhi, Nirmala Devkota, Rukmani Koirala, Deepa Sharma, Shanti Chaudhary, provincial assembly members Bindu Shrestha and Urmila Sunuwar, and GEFONT Vice President Sita Lama shared their views on forced labor at the program.
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