The International Labour Organization's (ILO) Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) published its 2026 report. Marking the 100th anniversary of this independent ILO supervisory body, the Report evaluates how ILO's member states implement ratified international labour standards in national law and practice, ensuring accountability, consistency, and progress in advancing social justice and decent work.
The report Application of International Labour Standards 2026 also provides observations on Nepal's application of key international labour standards. These include the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98), the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138), the Tripartite Consultation Convention, 1976 (No. 144), and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182).
Key recommendations include:
Eliminating the worst forms of child labour (Convention No. 182)
The Committee urges Nepal to accelerate efforts to eliminate child labour, particularly in hazardous sectors. This includes ensuring that hazardous work is clearly prohibited for all persons under 18, strengthening labour inspections, especially in informal and agricultural sectors, improving data systems, and intensifying action in high-risk sectors such as brick kilns. The Committee also calls for stronger rehabilitation and reintegration support for children affected by bonded labour, trafficking, and sexual exploitation.
The Committee acknowledges Nepal's continued progress, including implementation of the National Master Plan on Child Labour (2018-2028), adoption of the National Children's Policy (2024), strengthened inspections, and increased action against trafficking and bonded labour.
© ILO Nepal
Minimum age for employment (Convention No. 138)
The Committee encourages Nepal to continue efforts to eliminate child labour and strengthen labour inspection systems, particularly in the informal economy where it remains most prevalent. It also urges further alignment of national legislation with international standards.
Freedom of association and collective bargaining (Convention No. 98)
The Committee calls for strengthened legal protections against anti-union discrimination and more effective enforcement mechanisms. It also highlights the need to promote free and voluntary collective bargaining, ensure independent and transparent arbitration processes, and address gaps in legislation through ongoing labour law reforms in consultation with social partners.
Tripartite consultation (Convention No. 144)
The Committee emphasizes the importance of continued and effective tripartite dialogue among government, employers, and workers' organizations to support labour law reform and ensure the effective implementation of international labour standards.
© ILO Nepal
Continued technical cooperation
The Committee encourages Nepal to leverage ongoing ILO technical assistance to support time-bound legislative reform, institutional strengthening and effective tripartite dialogue. It also highlights that accelerating progress will require sustained engagement of government, employers' and workers' organizations to translate commitments into measurable improvements in workers' rights and child protection.
The ILO reaffirms its commitment to supporting Nepal in strengthening labour rights and eliminating child labour in line with international standards. Continued tripartite engagement and timely legal reforms will be critical to ensuring effective protection of workers' rights and accelerating progress toward decent work for all.
The Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR)
The Committee of Experts is an independent body composed of 20 high-level legal experts from around the world, who are charged with examining the application of ILO Conventions, Protocols and Recommendations by ILO Member States in law and practice. They serve in their personal capacity and are independent and impartial.
What Next?
The report will be submitted to the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference where governments, employers and workers will discuss its findings in the Conference Committee on the Application of Standards.
