WRITTEN QUESTION E-3224/00 by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Commission. Bonded labour in Nepal.
Date: 2000-10-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Nepal, labour law, prisoner work

C 163 E/62

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

authorities in this task, has identified the Akamas region in an indicative list of such areas. The designation
of Natura 2000 sites is due to be completed in the latter half of 2001. In the interim period the
Commission will continue to monitor whether Cyprus complies with the spirit of the legislation by
preserving the conservation interests of the region.

(1) See p. 19.
(2) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2001/C 163 E/061)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3224/00

by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Commission

(17 October 2000)

Subject: Bonded labour in Nepal

In January 2000, the Government of Nepal
indicated its intention to ratify the International Labour
Organisation(cid:146)s (ILO) Convention No 29 which prohibits bonded labour, and it reiterates this intent in
a declaration in July 2000.

In the light of this, can the Commission:

1.

ascertain how the Government of Nepal intends to ensure that its declaration of 17 July 2000, which
prohibits bonded labour,
is enforced, and whether it will now ratify ILO Convention No 29 on
bonded labour, and

2. provide an update on the rehabilitation programmes available to bonded labourers who are now free
under the declaration and the action being taken to ensure that former bonded labourers do not find
themselves expelled from their land without any means of subsistence?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(7 November 2000)

The Constitution of Nepal (1990), Article 20, guarantees the right against exploitation. It declares traffic in
human beings, slavery, serfdom or forced labour in any form is prohibited and any contravention of the
provision shall be punishable under law.

It may be noted that Nepal has already ratified four out of eight fundamental International Labour
Organisation (ILO) conventions.

As pointed out by the Honourable Member, the practice of bonded labour has come to an end with the
decision of the Government of Nepal on 17 July 2000.

The Government of Nepal has constituted a nine-member central co-ordination and monitoring committee
under the chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Local Development at the central
level and an eleven-member co-ordination and monitoring committee at
for the
identification of those freed from bonded labour and their rehabilitation.

the district

level

Records of both government owned land as well as uncultivated land have been collected with a view to
facilitating development initiatives of government agencies or non-governmental organisations for the
rehabilitation of those freed (training, food for work programme, settlements on government land).

In order to achieve effectiveness in relief and rehabilitation works as well as to maintain co-ordination and
to supervise ongoing activities, a six-member team has been constituted under the convenorship of a Joint
Secretary in the Ministry of Land Reforms and Management. The team has already started its work.

Finally, as regards ratification of ILO Convention 29 on forced labour by Nepal, the Nepalese authorities
have state that the Convention will be submitted to the next winter session of the Parliament for approval.