Employers’ Understanding and Practice on Decent Work: A Study in Hotels in Kathmandu Valley

Abstract

This study examines the understanding and practice of hotels employers regarding decent work in Kathmandu Valley. Decent work covers fair income, social protection, workplace safety, rights at work, and social dialogue according to ILO. In spite of comprehensive policies in Nepal, including the Labor Act 2074 and the Social Security Fund provisions, there are challenges in the effective implementation and adherence to decent work principles. The interviews conducted using qualitative research method which provides details insights into complex phenomena through participants feeling, thoughts and experiences. Total of five employers were purposively selected and interviewed from non-star and star-rated hotels who have employed 24 to 100 above staff members. The study hotels were selected considering staffs inclusion and diversity status, multiple service providing hotels. The data collection was done through guiding check list among Manager level and Owner of hotels from Kathmandu Valley. The study captures employers’ understanding of decent work, their implementation practices, and challenges they faced to provide decent work. The findings of the study show that employers generally recognize the importance of decent work for employee motivation, satisfaction, and retention but often seen these provisions as costs rather than investments. Employers highlighted issues such as unhealthy market competition, weak regulatory enforcement, lack of proper monitoring mechanisms, burden of inequitable taxation, political instability, delay in making decision and circulation of information from government regarding increment of wages, lack of practical skills and workplace performance, lack of skilled human resource and high turnover in the entry level. The employers emphasized that due to these issues some employers are not providing decent work. The study also highlights reality of decent work in practice. The study reveals differences in salary and benefits based on gender and job type, income does not support living cost of Kathmandu, lack of enabling environment, lack of inclusivity in law, informal recruitment process, duty hour is more than mentioned in law, and lack of safety and security at place. The findings of the study stress the need for government’s strong oversight, more inclusive policy and acts, and meaningful dialogue between employers and government regarding promotion of decent work. Timely addressing these challenges can contribute in creating fair, productive, and inclusive work and working environment in hotels sector in Nepal. This research fills a gap by focusing on the employers’ perspective, providing insights for researchers, policymakers and other relevant stakeholders with the aim promoting decent work and improve labor conditions in Nepali hotels sector. Regarding the status of decent work in workplace, future researcher can explore out of Kathmandu Valley to explore in depth in specific issue of decent work to understand deeply on issue of each pillar. I conducted qualitative study other researchers can apply quantitative method.