Unemployed Youth Required to Register at Ward Offices for Minimum Employment

The government has introduced a mandatory registration system for unemployed individuals seeking minimum employment, requiring them to submit applications at their respective ward offices. The provision has been enforced through the issuance of the National Employment Promotion Programme (Operation and Management) Directive, 2082 by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security. Under the new directive, unemployed individuals must apply using a format prescribed by the ward office in order to be officially listed as job seekers.

The directive builds on the existing Prime Minister Employment Programme, which has been implemented with support from the World Bank. According to the ministry, systems and mechanisms previously used under the Prime Minister Employment Programme—including the Employment Management Information System—will now operate under the newly introduced framework. The move aims to institutionalise internal employment promotion by linking local governments more closely with job seekers.

Once registered, unemployed individuals will be prioritised by local governments based on defined criteria while providing employment or employment-oriented services. The directive allows local governments to operate minimum employment projects focused on physical infrastructure, social development, empowerment initiatives, and the repair and maintenance of public infrastructure. These projects are expected to generate short-term employment while addressing local development needs.

In addition to wage-based employment, the directive also enables local governments to implement special self-employment programmes. These initiatives are intended to target people with disabilities, individuals living in extremely vulnerable conditions, and gender minorities. Depending on educational qualifications and socio-economic conditions, such groups may receive support through self-employment-oriented programmes designed to improve income security and social inclusion.

The directive places strong emphasis on transparency and financial accountability. Wages for workers employed under the minimum employment programme, as well as payments made to service providers, must be transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts. Employment Service Centres are also required to provide labour-related services and referral support based on local demand.

To strengthen job matching and labour market coordination, local governments—working in collaboration with provincial authorities—are authorised to organise employment fairs and special programmes. These events may involve employers, job seekers, banks and financial institutions, and labour service providers, helping to bridge gaps between labour supply and demand at the local level.

Local governments have also been tasked with analysing employment conditions, self-employment opportunities, entrepreneurial potential, and labour market trends within their jurisdictions. Based on such analysis, they are required to design and implement demand-driven employment and skills development programmes. Employment Service Centres must conduct labour market surveys and systematically manage employment-related records.

The directive further requires local governments to regularly update data on unemployed individuals, partially employed workers, employers, training providers, and financial institutions. Employment Service Centres are expected to maintain estimated records of job opportunities that could be generated by government, private, cooperative, and non-government sectors. Job seekers must also specify their preferred sectors, occupations, and types of employment—including self-employment and foreign employment—while registering.

All employment-related data will be integrated into the Shram Sansar system, ensuring unified record-keeping and information management across federal, provincial, and local levels. The ministry has stated that the programme will be implemented nationwide, covering all seven provinces and 753 local governments.

Under the National Employment Promotion Programme, young people entering the labour market will be supported through skills development, employment, self-employment, and entrepreneurship programmes aligned with market demand. Special focus will be given to utilising the skills, capital, experience, and technology of returnee migrant workers to strengthen domestic employment and enterprise development.

The directive also outlines provisions for short-term vocational and skills training programmes, typically lasting up to two months. Such training must be predominantly practical, with 80 percent hands-on instruction and 20 percent theoretical learning. Workplace-based training may involve existing workers in industries and enterprises, while the National Vocational Training Institute will oversee curriculum approval, skills testing, certification, and standardisation.

To enhance worker protection, the ministry has made workplace accident insurance mandatory for labourers and employment coordinators involved in the minimum employment programme. The programme will be funded through the national budget, with conditional grants transferred to provincial and local governments. Development partners may also provide financial and technical support for internal employment promotion and reintegration of returnee migrant workers.

For programme implementation, required human resources may be managed through consultancy or contract services. Each local Employment Service Centre will have one employment coordinator appointed with salary and benefits covered by the ministry’s budget. Coordinators appointed prior to the directive’s enforcement may continue in their roles based on performance evaluation.