Country profile NPL
Context
Context
| Year | Age group | Proportion | Gender | Indicator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 5-17 | 19.158 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2014 | 5-17 | 19.25 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2014 | 5-17 | 19.03 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2014 | 5-17 | 20.29 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2014 | 5-17 | 23.07 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2014 | 5-17 | 21.71 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
National Legal Framework
National Legal Framework
| Provision | Legislation date | Convention | Legislation info | sources | Value | sort_order | Provision description | Legislation description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 2000-06-21 | C138 & C182 | The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2056 - Schedule 1 ; Labour Rules - Section 43(2) | [{"link_name":"-The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2056","source_link":"https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/nep187177.pdf"},{"link_name":"-CEACR Observation","source_link":"https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4309460,103197"}] | Yes | 7 | C138 and C182 require the national determination of a list of hazardous work prohibited for children under 18 years of age. The competent authorities should consult with workers' and employers' organizations to determine what types of employment or work are considered to be hazardous. Such a list shall be periodically examined and revised as necessary. | The prohibition on hazardous and risky jobs listed under Schedule 1 of the Child Labour Act, applies only to children under 16 years. Similarly, Section 43(2) of the Labour Rules, 1993 also prohibits the employment of persons under 16 years on dangerous machines and in operations which are hazardous to their health. The Committee noted the Government’s indication that the draft list of types of hazardous work prohibited to children under 18 years, had been finalized and was awaiting adoption. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 2018-09-18 | C138 & C182 | The Act Relating to Children, 2075 - Section 7 (6) | [{"link_name":"The Act Relating to Children, 2075","source_link":"https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/nep209414.pdf"}] | 18 | 6 | C138 and C182 set 18 as the minimum age for hazardous work, which is defined as work that, due to its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to jeopardize children’s health, safety or morals. C138 and C182 allow countries to permit hazardous work exceptionally as from 16, provided that the health, safety and morals of the young persons concerned are fully protected and that they have received adequate specific instruction or training. | According to section 7(6) of the newly enacted Act Relating to Children of 2018, every child, defined as persons who have not completed 18 years of age, shall be protected from being exploited economically and from activities that are harmful to their health, physical, mental, moral or social development. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 2000-06-21 | C138 | The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2056 - Section 23 (1) | [{"link_name":"The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2056","source_link":"https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/nep187177.pdf"}] | 14 | 5 | C138 does not apply to work done in school for general, vocational or technical education or in training institutions or work done by children at least 14 years of age in undertakings, where such work is carried out in accordance with conditions prescribed by the competent authority. Such work must be an integral part of: (i) a course of education or training for which a school or training institution is primarily responsible; (ii) a programme of training mainly or entirely in an undertaking, which programme has been approved by the competent authority; or (iii) a programme of guidance or orientation designed to facilitate the choice of an occupation or of a line of training. | The minimum age for admission to apprenticeship is 14. According to section 23 (1) Government of Nepal shall form Child Labor Prohibition Committee in order to provide for health, safety, education, vocational training to children engaged in an enterprise; in order to provide for appropriate employment for children; to discourage to have children involved in works and to get necessary suggestions and opinions for prohibiting child labour. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 2018-09-18 | C138 | The Act Relating to Compulsory and Free Education, 2075 (2018) - Chapter-3 | [{"link_name":"The Act Relating to Compulsory and Free Education, 2075","source_link":"https://lpr.adb.org/sites/default/files/resource/%5Bnid%5D/nepal-the-act-relating-to-compulsory-and-free-education-2075-2018-english.pdf"}] | Yes | 4 | C138 requires that the minimum age for admission to work shall not be less than the age of completion of compulsory schooling and, in any case, shall not be less than 15 years. | According to Chapter-3 named Compulsory and Free Education 6. To provide compulsory education: (1) After the commencement of this Act, the State shall make provisions to provide compulsory education up to the basic level to every child who has completed four years but not completed thirteen years of age, through every Local Level, which is below the minimum age for admission to work. (2) In addition to the education mentioned in sub-section (1), at least one year's early childhood development and education shall be provided after the completion of the age of four years. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | N/A | C138 | N/A | [{"link_name":"N/A","source_link":"-"}] | N/A | 3 | If the country chooses to allow light work, States must determine what activities are considered light work, and the hours and the circumstances under which they may be carried out. | Light work is not allowed |
| Minimum age for light work | N/A | C138 | N/A | [{"link_name":"N/A","source_link":"-"}] | N/A | 2 | C138 defines light work as work that does not interfere with children’s schooling, or their ability to benefit from it, and that is not hazardous. C138 allows countries to permit light work for children younger than the general minimum age. For countries that set the minimum age at 15, this means children aged 13-14, and for those that set it at 14, children aged 12-13 may engage in light work. | Light work is not allowed |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 2000-06-21 | C138 | The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2056 - Section 3 | [{"link_name":"The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2056","source_link":"https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/nep187177.pdf"}] | 14 | 1 | C138 establishes 15 as the minimum age for work in general. Developing countries have the option of setting a minimum age of 14 as a transitional measure as they strengthen their education systems and economies. | According to Section 3(1) No child having not attained the age of 14 years shall be engaged in works as a labourer. (2) No child shall be engaged in any risky business or work referred to in the schedule. Children under the age of 14 years participate in artistic performances and such activities are regulated by the Education Directives 2068 (2012) of the Ministry of Education. For participation of children in any artistic performance listed under the Education Directives, outside school, approval has to be sought from the District Education Office. A draft Children’s Act which contains provisions on children’s participation in artistic performances is being adopted. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 2018-09-18 | C182 | The Act Relating to Children, 2075 - Sections 66(2), 72 | [{"link_name":"The Act Relating to Children, 2075","source_link":"https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/nep209414.pdf"}] | Yes | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | Section 66(2) of the Act Relating to Children, 2018 makes it an offence to train or cause a child to commit or involve in any offence (subsection (n)) which shall be punishable with a fine and imprisonment under section 72 |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 2018-09-18 | C182 | The Act Relating to Children, 2075 - Sections 2, 66(3), 72 | [{"link_name":"The Act Relating to Children, 2075","source_link":"https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/nep209414.pdf"}] | Yes | 10 | C182 prohibits the use of a child under the age of 18 for prostitution, regardless of the child's consent. The use, procuring or offering of any person under the age of 18 for commercial sexual exploitation constitutes a worst form of child labour, even if prostitution is a legalised. In regard to the prohibition of child pornography, States need to make sure that national legislation addresses the involvement of a child in the production of pornographic materials, including non-recorded performances. | Section 66(3) of this Act which deals with offences related to child sexual abuse makes it an offence to use a child (persons under 18 years as per section 2(j)) for the production of any obscene material or act (subsection (d)); to engage or cause to engage a child in sexual exploitation (subsection h); or to use or cause to use a child in sexual abuse, including child pornography (subsection (j)). According to section 72, these offences are punishable with a fine of up to 100,000 rupees and imprisonment for up to five years. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | 2018-09-18 | C182 | The Act Relating to Children, 2075 - Section 7(7) | [{"link_name":"The Act Relating to Children, 2075","source_link":"https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/nep209414.pdf"}] | Yes | 9 | C182 defines forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict as a worst form of child labour. Nevertheless, C182 only prohibits the forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18, and does not cover the voluntary recruitment of children under 18. | Section 7(7) of this Act provides that no child under the age of 18 years (defined under section 2(j)) shall be deployed in the army, police and armed groups or used for armed conflict or political purposes directly or indirectly. Section 72(1) further sets penalties of fines for violating this provision. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2018-09-18 | C182 | The Act Relating to Children, 2075 - Section 7(6) | [{"link_name":"The Act Relating to Children, 2075","source_link":"https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/nep209414.pdf"}] | Yes | 8 | C182 defines all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour as worst forms of child labour. | Section 7(6) Every child shall have the right to protection from being exploited economically and shall also be entitled to be protected from any activity which may be harmful to him or her or be obstacle to his or her education or detrimental to his or her health, physical, mental, moral, social development. |
International Legal Framework
International Legal Framework
| Ratification status | Convention | Convention description | Date of ratification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in-force | C182 | Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) | 03-JAN-2002 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 30-MAY-1997 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nepal is a Pathfinder Country of the Alliance 8.7, a global partnership committed to eradicating forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking, and child labour. As part of this initiative, Nepal has initiated the development of a roadmap towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.7. This roadmap outlines the strategic objectives and actions necessary to make significant progress in these areas. The roadmap covers the period from 2019 to 2030. According to the Report from Technical consultation on SDG Alliance 8.7 in Nepal held on 07 February 2019, the main objectives of Nepal's roadmap are: Improved Policy, Legal, and Institutional Framework: Revising and drafting laws and policies related to the elimination of child labour, forced labour, and human trafficking to ensure effective implementation. Enhanced Capacity of Actors: Building the capacity of government bodies and stakeholders at all three levels (federal, provincial, and local) through training and resource development. Monitoring, Rescue, and Rehabilitation: Conducting regular searches, monitoring, rescue operations, and rehabilitation of children caught in child labour. Direct Support Programmes: Providing assistance through direct support programmes to children and their families identified as vulnerable to child labour. Coordination and Networking: Establishing a network of stakeholders and actors to ensure coordinated efforts and avoid overlapping interventions. Responsible Authority | [{"link_name":"Nepal's Path to Achieving SDG 8.7: A Comprehensive Roadmap","source_link":"https://www.alliance87.org/sites/default/files/2023-08/Nepal%20Pathfinder%20Country%20Strategic%20Workshop%20Report.pdf"}] | 2019-2030 | Nepal's Path to Achieving SDG 8.7: A Comprehensive Roadmap | Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MOLESS) |
| The Government has been executing the National Plan of Action against Trafficking in Children and Women (2012-2022). In order to implement the National Plan of Action in its true spirit, the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MoWCSW) has prepared and put in place a plan of action for implementation. The MoWCSW has prepared and brought into force a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to run Rehabilitation Centre for the victims of human trafficking; a National Minimum Standard (NMS) of services to be provided to the victims; and also a Psychosocial Counselling Guidelines. | [{"link_name":"National Plan of Action against Trafficking in Children and Women for Sexual and Labor Exploitation","source_link":"https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Issues/Children/SR/CareAndRecovery/Nepal.docx"}] | 2012-2022 | National Plan of Action against Trafficking in Children and Women for Sexual and Labor Exploitation | Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MoWCSW) |
| in this NAP the Government indicates that it is committed to ensuring the effective implementation of this Master Plan and to protect children engaged in hazardous work through school enrolment programmes, family support programmes and alternative care options through the National Child Rights Council, Provincial and Local Child Rights Committees. | [{"link_name":"The National Master Plan on the Elimination of Child Labour","source_link":"https://www.unicef.org/nepal/reports/national-master-plan-child-labour-nepali-version"}] | 2018-28 | The National Master Plan on the Elimination of Child Labour | Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security |