KATHMANDU, Dec 7: Stakeholders have expressed concerns about what they said the lack of legal provisions for forest workers. 

Saying there is the lack of new technology, training, work-related skills and health, sanitation and work security facing workers engaging in forest sector, they demanded that the government should bring legal provisions and special programs to uplift their living standards. 

The stakeholders were speaking at an interaction on 'policy and implementation of the rights of forest workers' organized by the National Forum for Advocacy Nepal with support of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). 

At the event, Dr Maheshwor Dhakal, joint secretary of the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, viewed that a provision should be brought in place to distribute equal benefits among all forest workers. 

Likewise, Santosh Mani Nepal, Director of the WWF, Nepal, stressed the need for creating conducive environment for forest workers to work. 

Rama Poudel, Vice President of the Nepali Congress aligned-Nepal Trade Union said preparations were underway to accommodate rights of around 500,000 forest workers across the country in a new labor act. 

She also informed that although there are around 12 million laborers engaging in different sectors, only two million have been affiliated with the trade unions. 

Although there is not exact data of forest workers, around 1.5 million are estimated to be working in forest sector. RSS 

 
• forest workers
 
• stakeholders
 
• legal provisions