Digital Broadcast Initiative Equal Access

Sanibheri Rural Municipality, Rukum West, has taken a concrete step toward inclusive social protection. In the current fiscal year (2081/82), the municipality has enrolled 92 lower-level staff , particularly those working in education, health, and support roles, into the Social Security Fund. These are workers who often remain at the margins, many of them on contract, yet they are now formally covered.

For Sanibheri RM, social security is not optional. It is mandatory, especially for lower-level and contract employees. The Social Security Fund matters to both formal and informal sectors, because after years of work, people seek more than short-term benefits; they seek health protection, dignity, and a pension for old age. Existing old-age allowances and basic insurance schemes are simply not enough.

The Social Security Fund offers strong benefit packages and is gradually proving to be effective. However, challenges remain. While workers in the formal sector can contribute regularly, many informal workers, daily wage laborers, farmers, and the very poor do not have stable incomes. If federal and provincial governments could share part of the contribution burden for these groups, the system would become far more inclusive and impactful.

सामाजिक सुरक्षा कोष औपचारिक र अनौपचारिक दुबै क्षेत्रका श्रमिकका लागि अनिवार्य छ। विशेषगरी श्रमिक, किसान, गरिब र अति विपन्न वर्गलाई राज्यको सहकार्यसहित योगदानमा आधारित सामाजिक सुरक्षामा जोड्न सके, स्वास्थ्य र वृद्धावस्थाको सुनिश्चितता सम्भव हुन्छ। यही नै दीगो र समावेशी सामाजिक सुरक्षाको बाटो हो।
Through the national campaign led by Social Security Fund in collaboration with the International Labour Organization - ILO Nepal, Digital Broadcast Initiative Equal Access DBI EA is supporting awareness and outreach efforts to help workers understand how social security works, why regular contribution matters, and how it protects them and their families across all stages of life.

सबै नागरिकलाई सामाजिक सुरक्षा पुर्याउने प्रयासमा स्थानीय सरकारका अनुभव कस्ता छन् त?
In Shuvakalika Rural Municipality, insurance coverage was initiated for Dalit and low-income households, reaching over 1,300 families. Yet, without timely renewal and clear, uniform policy guidance, many beneficiaries are unable to access services they are entitled to.

As Chairman Govinda Prasad Acharya highlights, sustainable social protection requires:
• Clear and uniform policies led by the federal government
• Strong coordination across federal, provincial, and local levels
• Financial backing alongside policy frameworks
• And most importantly, informed and proactive citizens

Social security is not just about allocating funds; it’s about ensuring systems work seamlessly and people understand how to stay protected.

यो विषयले नीतिगत खाडललाई स्पष्ट देखाउँछ। संघीय तहबाट स्पष्ट र एकरूप नीति नहुँदा प्रदेश र स्थानीय तहका राम्रा पहलहरू पनि नागरिकसम्म प्रभावकारी रूपमा पुग्न सक्दैनन्। सामाजिक सुरक्षा जस्ता सेवाहरू प्रभावकारी बनाउन संघ, प्रदेश र स्थानीय सरकारबीच समन्वयसँगै नागरिकको सचेत र सक्रिय सहभागिता अपरिहार्य छ।
Through this campaign, the Social Security Fund सामाजिक सुरक्षा कोष, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization - ILO Nepal and Digital Broadcast Initiative Equal Access (DBI EA), continues to amplify local voices and strengthen dialogue for inclusive, effective social protection.

नेपालको श्रमबजारमा अनौपचारिक क्षेत्रका श्रमिकहरूको संख्या अत्यधिक भए पनि योगदानमा आधारित सामाजिक सुरक्षामा पहुँच अझै सीमित छ। स्वास्थ्य, औषधि उपचार र मातृत्व संरक्षणजस्ता सुविधा महिलाका लागि राहत, सम्मान र सुरक्षाको आधार हुन्। योगदानमा आधारित सामाजिक सुरक्षा सम्पूर्ण श्रमिकको नैसर्गिक अधिकार हो। अनौपचारिक श्रमिक र सामाजिक सुरक्षा एकअर्कासँग अन्योन्याश्रित छन्, त्यसैले यसको कार्यान्वयन अपरिहार्य छ।

Sita Lama, Vice President of GEFONT and Chair of the JTUCC Women’s Committee, draws attention to a critical gap: despite existing procedures, only a limited number of workers are currently enrolled in contribution-based social security. This reality reflects how informal sector workers, especially women, continue to face systemic vulnerabilities.

As labour mobility increases, trade unions are urging all 753 local governments to identify, register, and include workers under contribution-based social security. The aim is clear: to ensure that no worker is left unprotected simply because they work informally.
Her message underscores a fundamental principle: contribution-based social security is not optional; it is a natural right of every worker. Informal work and social security are deeply interconnected, making inclusive implementation not just necessary, but urgent.

Through the national campaign led by the Social Security Fund सामाजिक सुरक्षा कोष, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization - ILO Nepal, Digital Broadcast Initiative Equal Access (DBI EA) is supporting awareness and outreach efforts to strengthen the understanding of workers’ rights and expand access to social protection, particularly for informal and women workers. Joint Trade Union Coordination Centre - JTUCC