Only two-third Nepalis fully employed: Labour Survey 2008

Only two-third Nepalis fully employed: Labour Survey 2008
Nepalnews, 11-Aug-09

Nepal Labour Force Survey 2008 has shown only two-thirds of Nepal's work force was fully employed with work available for 40 hours or more per week in 2008.

Of the remaining one-third, 19.5 percent worked between 20 and 39 hours a week, 11.6 percent worked less than 20 hours a week, while 2.1 percent didn't work at all.

The report of the survey, conducted by Central Bureau of Statistics with support from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and International Labour Organisation (ILO) between January and December 2008 on a representative sample of 16,000 households across the country, was released Monday.

For the purpose of the survey, all Nepalis aged 15 years or more seeking employment, available for work or employed were included in the 'work force.'

According to the report, only 16.9 percent of the employed population worked on a salary or wage, while the remaining 83.4 percent were self-employed.

Likewise, 73.9 percent of the people worked in agricultural sector, while only 26.1 were employed in non-agricultural sector.

Although agriculture is the major contributor to the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the highest employer, agriculture in Nepal often means subsistence farming with seasonal work and under-utilisation of the labour force.

Meanwhile, the survey has shown an improvement in the literacy status and the lifestyle of Nepalis compared to the previous years.

The literacy rate has increased to 63 percent, 14 percent more than the rate shown in the previous labour survey conducted a decade ago.

Likewise, the survey also shows:
* 89.2 percent of the population live in their own homes, while 9.2 percent live in rented apartments.
* 68.4 percent use firewood as the main fuel for cooking and 12.3 percent use Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
* 56 percent of the households use electricity to light their homes, while 33 percent still depend on kerosene lit lamps.
* 45 percent of the population uses tap water, while 39 percent use hand pumps or boring wells.
* 58 percent households own a radio set and 33 percent owns a TV set.
* 9.8 percent households have a landline telephone and 28.3 percent of the population use mobile phones.
* 3.1 percent households have a computer.
* 78.4 percent of the households have arable land.
* 29.1 percent households have at least one person working abroad.

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