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134 rupees less wage for women agricultural workers than men
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A government report has pointed out that despite the nature of work being the same, there is a wage gap between men and women in agriculture. According to the report of the National Statistics Office, the average daily wages of women are 134 rupees less than that of men.
According to the community report under the agricultural census published by the office, women agricultural workers earn Rs 531 per day. Male agricultural workers have been getting an average of Rs 665 per day. Section 7 of the Labor Act 2074 states that there should be no discrimination in wages based on gender. However, the report prepared by collecting details from 6 thousand 36 (about 90 percent) of the total wards in the country shows that there is discrimination in wages.
Inequality in workers' wages is seen in all provinces. Agricultural workers earn the highest wages in Wagmati province. Women get Rs 250 less daily wages than men. According to the report, men in Wagmati earn Rs 810 per day. Female workers get only 650 rupees per day. The second highest wage is in Gandaki province. In Gandaki, male agricultural workers earn Rs 808 and women earn Rs 505. For the same work, women agricultural workers have received a daily price of Rs 303 less than men.
Inequality is highest in Gandaki and lowest in the Far West. In the Far West, there is a difference of Rs 63 per day in wages between men and women. In Surdur, men earn an average of Rs 601 per day and women earn an average of Rs 538 per day. The lowest wages are received in Madhesh province. Male agricultural workers in Madhesh earn Rs 557 per day. Female workers get 477 rupees less than men by 88 rupees. According to the report, in Koshi, male agricultural workers earn Rs 688 and women earn Rs 488. In Lumbini, male agricultural workers get Rs 620 and women get Rs 511. It is mentioned in the report that male workers in Karnali got Rs 699 and women got Rs 581.
The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security has increased the minimum wage of workers in accordance with the Labor Act 2074, effective from July 1, 2080. But compared to July 1, 2078, it has been increased by 2,300 rupees to 17,300 rupees. According to the ministry, now the monthly wages for workers other than tea plantations have reached 17,300 rupees. Earlier, the monthly minimum wage of workers was Rs 15,000. However, the workers have not been able to get wages as increased by the government.
According to the notification of the Ministry, the basic salary has been increased from 10,820 rupees to 6,480 rupees and 17,300 rupees. Earlier, the basic salary was Rs 9,385 and dearness allowance was Rs 5,615.
Now the daily wage of workers has reached 668 rupees. Earlier it was 577 rupees. In the case of tea plantation workers, the monthly salary has reached 13 thousand 893 rupees. Earlier this amount was 12 thousand 81 rupees. The daily wage has reached 500 rupees. Earlier this amount was 435 rupees.
Although the government has determined the minimum wage, it has not been fully implemented. The businessman claims that there is a problem in the full implementation due to the recent slowdown in economic activity. The industrialists/businessmen affected by Covid have not been able to get involved. Some businesses have closed down, most of the industries have collapsed," said a member of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kathmandu. "Some have implemented it, some have not."
