NEPAL LABOUR STATISTICS:REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS

A report prepared by ILO mission, 1-10 July 1996

Kathmandu, July 1996   

Table of Contents:  

ABBREVIATIONS

                                CBS Central Bureau of Statistics

• • • • CIS National Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre

        EASMAT East Asia Multidisciplinary Advisory Team

        EESP Employment and Exchange Service Project

        FNCCI Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry

        GEFONT General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions

        ILO International Labour Organisation

        IPEC International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour

        ISCO International Standard Classification of Occupations

        ISIC International Standard Industrial Classification

        NPC National Planning Commission

        NSIC Nepal Standard Industrial Classification

        NTUC Nepal Trade Union Congress

        NTUF Nepal Trade Union Federation

        SAAT South Asia Multidisciplinary Advisory Team

        UNDP United Nations Development Programme

        UNFPA United Nations Funds for Population Activities

        UNSO United Nations Statistical Office

         

         

Preface

1. The Government of Nepal has given high priority to the alleviation of poverty through employment generation, skills development and rural development. The draft ILO Country Objectives document supports these Government goals together with improved industrial relations, elimination of bonded and child labour and improved occupational safety and work conditions.
2. The National Planning Commission and Ministry of Labour are concerned that the system of labour statistics is inadequate for:

• • (a) evaluating the current labour market and working conditions and

    (b) monitoring progress arising from the application of Government policies and action plans.

1. This view was endorsed by the ILO's 1995 TSS1 mission and by other key users of labour statistics in Nepal.
2. In this environment, the ILO was requested to assist the Government in:

• • (a) reviewing the system of labour statistics in Nepal,

    (b) identifying problem areas and

    (c) making recommendations for improvement.

1. An ILO mission was held for these purposes from 1-10 July 1996 and worked closely with national counterparts from the Central Bureau of Statistics, the Ministry of Labour and the National Planning Commission.
2. This report was mainly prepared by the ILO/EASMAT Senior Specialist in Labour Statistics (Bob Pember) on the basis of information provided by the national counterparts. Comments by Ajit K. Ghose (ILO/SAAT Senior Specialist in Employment Strategies) have also been included in the final report preparation.

H. S. S. Fonseka

Officer in charge

ILO Office Kathmandu

July 1996 Chapter 1 Executive Summary

Review of labour statistics

1. The review found that the most recent published results relating to basic information on the number of employed and unemployed and their characteristics are from the 1991 Population Census. Although there are other data on the manufacturing sector, no other recent results with comprehensive coverage are available on the employed or unemployed, and this is a serious deficiency in information for manpower planning and assessment.
2. The National Planning Commission advises that official estimates of poverty levels are based on the 1984/85 Household Budget Survey, the most recent for which income distribution results are available. Other official estimates are based on studies by experts.

1. During 1995, 1996 and 1997, the Central Bureau of Statistics, Nepal Rastra Bank and Tribhuvan University and other agencies have conducted (or are planning to conduct) a number of household-based surveys with comprehensive coverage which include economic activity data and household expenditure (for poverty assessment). However, results from these surveys are not available at this time (July 1996). These surveys are not coordinated and include the costly and inefficient duplication of two surveys on employment, migration and demographics in 1996. More coordination and control of the statistical programme is required, and it is preferable that the CBS be responsible for all large-scale household surveys.
2. The following are recommended in respect of the household surveys programme:

• • (a) Five-yearly national Labour Force Surveys by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) providing data with comprehensive coverage on employment, underemployment and unemployment, and detailed information on their characteristics. Annual urban Labour Force Surveys should be introduced as soon as resources permit. These Labour Force Surveys should separately identify employment in the informal sector.

    The CBS plans to undertake the first national Labour Force Survey in 1997 but has insufficient resources. A request has been made under the Development Budget for Rupees 2.7 million, of which Rupees 1.0 million is to complete the analysis and publication of the Nepal Living Standards Survey 1995-96. This leaves Rupees 1.7 million (about $US31 thousand) for the Labour Force Survey which will cost about $US141 thousand (a shortfall of $US110 thousand). Urgent attention is needed to ensure the funding of this vital survey.

    (b) Questions on economic activity should be included in all other household-based surveys and so provide general measures of employment and unemployment almost annually (depending on the frequency of such surveys).

    (c) Five-yearly Household Budget Surveys providing data for poverty assessment and minimum wage determination. The responsibility for the Household Budget Survey should move from the Nepal Rastra Bank to the CBS which has substantial household surveys capability. Questions on economic activity should be included so as to make analysis of poverty-employment linkages possible, as well as to meet the needs mentioned in (b).

    (d) Five-yearly Informal Sector Surveys providing more detailed information on the informal sector than provided by the Labour Force Surveys. International experience suggests that the best method for these surveys is to approach a sample of households to identify informal sector enterprises, and then interview a sample of these enterprises.

1. In respect of the formal sector, there is a serious shortage of information on employment, wages, job vacancies and conditions of work. The mission was informed that there is no data on employment in the government sector. Statistics are required showing the number of employees working for government at central, regional and local level, classified by sex and occupation.
2. In respect of the private sector, the 1991/92 Census of Manufacturing Establishments and annual establishment-based Surveys of Manufacturing Establishments (with 10 or more persons engaged) have been conducted by the CBS, but the annual surveys are apparently under threat. There are no regular surveys of other industrial sectors. A number of one-off surveys are planned for 1996 by FNCCI and the Department of Labour, but these also do not have complete coverage of the formal sector.
3. The CBS needs to update and maintain a list of all establishments with 10 or more persons engaged in all industrial sectors, and include in the list all central, regional and local government agencies and units and all state-owned enterprises. The list should include name, address, industrial group, institutional sector (private, government and parastatal) as well as a measure of employment size to facilitate subsequent sample selection.

1. This national listing of establishments should be the central listing which is accessible to all agencies, and should be used by the Department of Labour to improve its labour inspection and other administrative systems.
2. It is recommended that the CBS improve the national listing of establishments and then revise its programme of establishment-based surveys as follows:

• • (a) In the long term, the CBS should aim to undertake annual establishment-based survey of employment, wages and (perhaps) job vacancies, and subsequently surveys on training needs and conditions of work every three years or so. These surveys should relate to all establishments with 10 or more persons engaged in all sectors (public and private, and all branches of economic activity).

    (b) In the immediate future, the annual Surveys of Manufacturing Establishments should continue, and should be extended to cover Mining and Quarrying and Supply of Electricity, Water and Gas industrial groups. These surveys are essential in measuring employment, wages and labour productivity in these sectors.

    Also in the immediate future, action should be taken to measure employment and wages in the public sector (government and state-owned enterprises) by accessing government records - see below.

1. An Employment Research and Development Centre in the Department of Labour was established in 1980 and later re-named the Employment and Exchange Service Project (EESP). The EESP was set up to study and collect labour market information. It does this by compiling statistics based on administrative records as outlined later and by carrying out surveys of establishments in selected industrial groups in seven selected districts each year.

1. The EESP's establishment-based surveys include data on job vacancies, employment, manpower and training needs and related information, but are considered inadequate because:

• • (a) The surveys are not complete in coverage;

    (b) The results are not comparable over time (because the surveyed districts are changed from time to time);

    (c) There is no adjustment for non-response (further complicating year-on-year comparison); and

    (d) Processing is manual and consequently the range of results is limited.

1. It is suggested that the CBS has better skills and survey experience to undertake and process large-scale establishment surveys and that the EESP should concentrate on compiling data from administrative records. Some small-scale research surveys and case studies may also be conducted occasionally.
2. If the programme of establishment-based surveys described in paragraph 9 above was implemented, the existing EESP's establishment-based surveys would be unnecessary and resources could be released for improving statistics based on administrative records.
3. The number of Indian nationals employed in Nepal is not known, but believed to be considerable and of increasing concern. This is a sensitive issue which must be considered carefully in the labour statistics system. In theory, the work permit system should enumerate the Indian workforce in Nepal, but in practice most Indians do not bother to apply for permits (only 22 Indian nationals were given new work permits in 1994/95 out of a total of only 98 new permits). Household surveys and establishment surveys may provide estimates of Indian employment. The collection of establishment-level data on the employment of Indians should be pilot-tested to assess mis-reporting.
4. Data on employment in the informal sector is very limited. A survey of small-scale manufacturing establishments was conducted in 1991/92 and two Multi-Purpose Production Surveys (one urban 1988/89 and the other rural 1989/90) but more recent data and more comprehensive data are not available. It is recommended that the planned 1997 Labour Force Survey should include a component on employment in the informal sector. As already mentioned, this should also be a component of regular Labour Force Surveys and there should be five-yearly Informal Sector Surveys providing additional detail.
5. Statistics on wages are also limited. The annual surveys of manufacturing establishments may be used to provide overall wage averages, and the one-off survey in 1996 by the FNCCI is expected to provide more detailed information. However, a regular programme of establishment-based surveys are recommended (as outlined above) to provide this information.
6. In addition, arrangements should be made with the Ministry of Agriculture for agricultural extension officers to report monthly the minimum and maximum wages paid to employees in selected agricultural occupations in their district. This reporting could be restricted to a sample of districts and might be done in collaboration with CBS district offices.
7. The measurement of child labour and bonded labour has been included in the 1996 survey undertaken by the Tribhuvan University as a result of assistance from ILO's IPEC programme.
8. The Employment and Exchange Service Project (EESP) compiles statistics on the output and post-training work experience of the various vocational centres and skill development training centres. It has conducted four tracer surveys since 1981, the last was conducted by a consultancy firm (Applied Research Development Study Centre) in respect of the 1992/93 graduates from Skill Development Training Centres and published by the Department of Labour. The Labour Force Surveys will provide some data on the absorption of trainees and graduates. These results will be limited by sample size and so more tracer studies will be required in due course.
9. The National Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre (CIS) in the Department of Labour is responsible for producing and maintain statistics on occupational safety and health. It receives assistance from the ILO's regional programme in this field (ILO/FINNIDA's ASIA-OSH) and will not be further discussed in this review.
10. Other labour statistics such as union membership, industrial disputes, work permits, overseas labour, minimum wages, registered jobseekers and notified job vacancies, and so on are covered by various labour laws and can be derived from administrative records.
11. The Department of Labour's Employment and Exchange Service Project (EESP) compiles and published these data regularly, but the basic systems upon which these statistics are based are incomplete and ineffective. It is recommended that the ILO assist the Department of Labour in improving its administrative systems and its compilation and presentation of its statistics.
12. The improvement of these systems, and the intensification of efforts following the EESP's concentration of statistical activities on the compilation of statistics from administrative records (see paragraph 12-13), should produce very useful annual (and in some cases more frequent) estimates on:

• • (a) industrial relations topics;

    (b) employment exchange information;

    (c) overseas employment and migration;

    (d) foreign employment in Nepal;

    (e) occupationl accidents;

    (f) employment and earnings in the public sector (with state-owned enterprises and the various levels of government separately identified).

1. The role and effectiveness of the EESP needs improvement. It is recommended that it should also be responsible for maintaining a data base of labour market information from all sources. This data base does not necessarily have to be computerised at this time. The Project should also monitor and advise the CBS on the coordination of labour statistical activities in Nepal.
2. It is recommended that the Department of Labour requests the Ministry of General Administration to provide a professional statistician from the Statistical Service to strengthen the Project.
3. Finally, it is recommended that the EESP should arrange for statistics on employment and wages to be compiled from government payroll records. This should include employment at all levels of government (central, regional and local) as well as state-owned enterprises which fall under the control of certain ministries. This work may cease when annual establishment surveys of the formal sector are initiated by the CBS as recommended in paragraph 9a.
4. Coordination of labour statistics
5. As already mentioned, the system of labour statistics is fragmented and uncoordinated. There is no single agency responsible for labour statistics, although the CBS has overall responsibility for the national statistical programme. In particular, there is only limited user-producer contact and no coordination of data collection and analysis in labour statistics.
6. The Ministry of Labour is not a member of the National Statistical Council which advises on statistical priorities. In view of the high priority given by the government to employment and labour issues, it is strongly recommended that the Ministry request to be included in this Council.
7. A permanent sub-committee on labour statistics should be established under the National Statistical Council to act as a forum for discussions between users and producers of labour statistics and to advise on statistical priorities, methods and standards. Representatives should include Government and non-government agencies. (At present, the CBS sets up a technical committee prior to each new survey to advise on technical matters. This is useful but insufficient and transitory.)
8. The EESP should compile a data base (not necessarily computerised at this stage) of labour market information from all possible sources (including other agencies). This data base should be shared with all users. The key labour statistics from the various sources should also be published in a Year Book of Labour Statistics.
9. Statistical capacities
10. Capabilities at the Department of Labour
11. Within the Department of Labour (especially with the EESP), statistical skills are limited and computing facilities are poor. The Deputy Director has taken an number of excellent initiatives in respect of labour statistics. He needs support in the form of a professional statistician to supplement his own enthusiasm and the skills of the existing professional economists in the Department. As already mentioned, a professional statistician should be obtained through the Statistical Service.
12. The existing statistical staff will also need training in statistical skills, statistical computer processing, and data analysis, interpretation and presentation.
13. Additional computers and associated equipment and software are also required in the Department of Labour. It is expected that improvements to the administrative systems will include the computerisation of these systems. Computers will be needed in each district office as well as in the head office of the Department.
14. Capabilities at the Central Bureau of Statistics
15. In the CBS, staff numbers are adequate but most of the professional staff are new graduates who will need training in statistical processing, systems design, questionnaire design, applied statistical methods (including sampling) as well as data presentation and analysis.
16. Additional computers and office equipment are required at CBS.
17. Government allowances for field data collection are so low that field staff are difficult to recruit. Increases in these allowances are essential if a viable statistical programme is to be developed in Nepal.
18. Population frames
19. The existing household surveys population frame appears adequate, and will be maintained in growth areas as well as after population censuses.
20. As already mentioned, the population frame for establishment-based surveys is inadequate and a national listing of establishments needs to be established and maintained.
21. Standard classifications
22. The current Nepal Standard Industrial Classification (NSIC) is based on the out-of-date International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC), Revision 2. It is recommended that NSIC be amended to conform with the current international standard (Revision 3).
23. Occupational data are currently being coded using the 1968 version of the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO). The development of a national occupational classification based on the current (1988 version) of ISCO is recommended. In the interim, ISCO-88 should be adopted as the Nepalese standard.
24. These standard classifications are not widely used. All agencies should be encouraged to use these standard classifications in order to facilitate comparability between different data sources.
25. The next step
26. The Department of Labour may wish to incorporate the above proposals into its draft project proposal for strengthening and improving labour market information in Nepal. It is recommended that the revised project proposal should be presented in separate components, covering household surveys, establishment surveys and administrative systems separately to facilitate donor funding. Collaboration with the Central Bureau of Statistics will be essential in producing the revised proposals. The ILO would be pleased to provide technical assistance in this work and in finding possible donors.
27. Summary of recommendations
28. Chapter 5 of this report gives a brief overview of the recommendations contained in this report.

Chapter 2 Background and mechanics of the review

Background

1. On 2 July 1996, His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev announced the Government's policy and programmes for the fiscal year 1996/97. The Government has given high priority to poverty alleviation through employment promotion, skills training and rural development.
2. The ILO's draft Country Objectives are consistent with these aims and comprise:

• • - poverty alleviation through employment promotion and skill development

    - development of harmonious industrial relations

    - elimination of child labour and bonded labour

    - improvement of working conditions, occupational safety and health at work places.

1. Each of these objectives will require timely, reliable and comparable labour statistics in order to identify problem areas and to monitor and evaluate progress in resolving these problems.
2. The draft TSS1 report of the ILO mission in March 1995 stated: "Assessing employment conditions in Nepal is a very difficult task; statistical data are inadequate and the reliability of whatever data are available is open to question." (page 3, ILO 1995)
3. The TSS1 report did not recommend any specific programme of activities to provide these data, although it did mention the need for:

• • - District Development Committees and properly designed surveys by other agencies to monitor and evaluate local level employment promotion (page 144-145, ILO 1995) and

    - "a permanent system of market information on the demand for skills and their supply (which is) critical to improving training quality and efficiency". (page 149, ILO 1995).

ILO mission

1. In 1995 and early 1996, the National Planning Commission proposed an ILO mission to review the available labour statistics, assess statistical capacities, identify data gaps and areas of improvement in the statistical system and make recommendations for future action.
2. This mission was held in the period 1-10 July 1996 and was expected to comprise:

• • - Robert J Pember (Senior Specialist in Labour Statistics) from ILO's East Asia Multidisciplinary Advisory Team (EASMAT), Bangkok and

    - Ajit K. Ghose (Senior Specialist in Employment Strategies) from the South Asia Multidisciplinary Advisory Team (SAAT), New Delhi.

1. At the last moment, Mr Ghose had to delay his arrival until late in the mission due to personal reasons, and Mr Pember completed the work in association with the national counterparts. Mr Ghose's comments have been considered in the final report preparation.
2. National counterparts
3. These national counterparts represented the Central Bureau of Statistics (Mr Keshav Bahadur Karmacharya), Ministry of Labour (Mr S. N. Vaidya) and National Planning Commission Secretariat (Mr Gyanendra Kumar Shrestha).
4. It was hoped that the team of national counterparts would continue to work collaboratively after the end of the mission and to maintain liaison on the development of Nepal's labour market information system.
5. Under the technical guidance of the ILO specialist in labour statistics, the national counterparts compiled a set of the currently available labour statistics as at July 1996 as well as a methodological description for each collection or compilation. They also compiled a set of the questionnaires and forms and publications issued in respect of these statistics.
6. This set of data and associated methodological descriptions was intended to form the initial data base of labour market information to be held by the Ministry of Labour and subsequently maintained by the Department of Labour as future results became available. (As stated below, it is recommended that the existing Employment and Exchange Service Project (EESP) should be strengthened to undertake this role for which it was created.)
7. The counterparts were also requested to assess their agencies statistical capacities in terms of current staff numbers and statistical skill levels, computer hardware and software, and other aspects of the statistical infrastructure.
8. The results of these detailed reviews are shown in Annexes C to E and are summarised in the next chapters.

Chapter 3 Review of labour statistics

Methods of producing labour statistics

1. Labour statistics may be produced by:

• • (a) Household-based censuses and surveys: These are the most comprehensive in coverage and therefore the most useful for assessing unemployment, poverty, underemployment and employment in all sectors. They are often more expensive and more operationally demanding than other methods, and information on earnings is rarely well reported. Clearly, household surveys are also inappropriate for measuring other important labour market information such as job vacancies.

    (b) Establishment-based censuses and surveys: These relate only to the formal sector, and often only to specific industrial sectors of the formal sector (such as manufacturing, mining and quarrying, electricity, water and gas supply). The quality of these collections depends on the quality of the register of establishments upon which they are based. A business register which is not up-to-date or which excludes certain sectors or types of establishments will provide incomplete results. The advantage of establishment-based surveys lies in the higher quality of statistics reported, because these are drawn directly from business records and payrolls.

    Establishment-based surveys are the most appropriate source for statistics on labour turnover, job vacancies, wages, formal sector employment, training needs and conditions of work.

    (c) Labour statistics based on administrative records: These statistics are cheap to produce because no additional data collection is involved. However, the statistics are only as good as the administrative system upon which they are based. Many administrative systems do not cover all the units within their scope (not all unemployed register at the employment exchange, not all businesses are inspected, not all foreigners have work permits, not all industrial disputes or accidents are reported) and consequently statistics from these sources should be used with caution. Nevertheless, if the administrative systems can be improved, then a great deal of valuable labour market information can be obtained from this source.

1. In Nepal, all of these sources are used to some extent as outlined below. However, in general, there are few labour statistics available and there is mistrust of their quality.
2. Current statistics: Household based censuses and surveys
3. Other than the decennial population censuses, there is no regular collection of comprehensive statistics on economic activity in Nepal. The most recently available statistics covering the whole population were provided from the June 1991 Population Census. The "Population Monograph of Nepal", published in March 1995 by the Central Bureau of Statistics provides an excellent analysis of 1991 Census results. These results (which are also available at district level) are rapidly becoming out-of-date and there is an urgent need for current information.

1. Four household-based surveys are expected to provide comprehensive statistics on economic activity, but their results are not yet available:

• • (a) Nepal Living Standards Survey 1995/96: This was conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics with support from the World Bank. The last data files are now being received from the field and final processing and tabulation will follow. This survey has a national sample of only 3,388 households, and consequently will provide reliable estimates of economic activity only at broad levels, rather than in detail.

    (b) Household Budget Survey, 1995/96: This survey is held in urban areas only about every ten years (last two surveys were in 1976/77 and 1984/85). It is conducted by the Rastra Nepal Bank and is mainly designed to re-weight the Consumer Price Index and for poverty assessment. The sample of 2500 households cannot provide finely detailed estimates of economic activity, but the CBS believes that data were collected on employment, occupation and industry. These results may not necessarily be tabulated. Processing of this survey is in progress at July 1996.

    (c) Survey of Migration, Employment and Birth, Death and Contraception, 1995/96: This was conducted by the Central Department of Population Studies in the Tribhuvan University with support from UNFPA, and also includes a component on the activities of children. A sample of 20,628 households was broken into components, and the migration and employment component amounted to 14,690 households (4950 households in urban areas and 9,740 in rural areas).

    A sub-sample of about 200 households (selected purposively, not randomly) was used for a Time Allocation Survey to study the time spent on various detailed activities over a 24 hour period.

    Processing of the main survey (and Time Allocation sub-sample) is in progress (at July 1996) and table design has started. The results are expected before the end of 1996.

    (d) Urban Socio-economic Demographic and Migration Survey, 1996: This survey was conducted in urban areas only in May/June 1996 by the Central Bureau of Statistics with funding from UNFPA. The urban sample of 4000 households as well as the survey content is similar to the survey conducted by the Tribhuvan University. Results (including statistics relating to economic activity) are expected in 1997.

1. It is surprising and regrettable that scarce statistical resources were allocated to the conduct of these last two surveys of similar content at the same period of time, and that the smaller (urban) survey was conducted by the national statistical agency. Two surveys were planned because the Tribhuvan University survey was intended to be held earlier but was delayed, and because the objectives of the surveys differed slightly. Nevertheless, it would have been preferable for the CBS to have been responsible for one national survey covering all objectives on employment, migration and demography, and working in collaboration with the university and other users.
2. The CBS has a Household Surveys Unit which should have responsibility for all major household surveys in the country, including the Household Budget Survey. In 1991, a United Nations inter-agency mission was informed that the Rastra Bank would prefer the CBS to undertake the Household Budget Surveys but was concerned on two counts: data quality and timing. "On data quality, the view was expressed that the rates of pay and field allowances in the government sector would need to be significantly increased in order to ensure that staff were able to give adequate attention to producing good quality output. In respect of timing, the Bank stated that if the next Household Budget Survey had not been undertaken by 1994/95, then it would do so itself." (UNSO/ILO, 1991)
3. It is clear that the situation has not changed in the last five years. Government collection of statistics will continue to be constrained if government rates of pay and field allowances are not reviewed.

1. Finally in the area of comprehensive statistics, the CBS has plans to conduct a national Labour Force Survey in 1997, but details of the methodology have not yet been finalised and the results are not likely before mid-1998. The CBS has requested Rupees 2.7 million under the Development Budget, of which Rupees 1.0 million is to complete the analysis and publication of the Nepal Living Standards Survey 1995-96 leaving a balance of Rupees 1.7 million (about $US31 thousand). The cost of the Labour Force Survey is estimated at about $US141 thousand and there will be a shortfall of $US110 thousand. Urgent donor assistance is required to ensure the funding of this vital survey.
2. Recommendations: Household based censuses and surveys
3. More coordination and control of the statistical programme is required, and it is preferable that the CBS be responsible for all large-scale household surveys. It has developed a household surveys capability (including a master sample frame and operational experience).
4. The following are recommended:

• • (a) Labour Force Surveys: As mentioned above, urgent attention is required to ensure funding of the 1997 Labour Force Survey. Subsequently, it would be desirable for the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) to conduct annual urban Labour Force Surveys and five-yearly national Labour Force Surveys. However, resources for such a programme may not be available and for the immediate future it is more practicable to recommend a series of Five-yearly national Labour Force Surveys, providing data with comprehensive coverage on employment, underemployment and unemployment, and detailed information on their characteristics. These surveys should also separately identify employment in the informal sector.

    (b) Questions on economic activity should be included in all other household-based surveys and so provide general measures of employment and unemployment almost annually (depending on the frequency of such surveys).

    (c) Five-yearly Household Budget Surveys providing data for poverty assessment and minimum wage determination. The responsibility for the Household Budget Survey should move from the Nepal Rastra Bank to the CBS which has substantial household surveys capability. Questions on economic activity should be included so as to make analysis of poverty-employment linkages possible, as well as to meet the needs mentioned in (b).

    (d) Five-yearly Informal Sector Surveys providing more detailed information on the informal sector than provided by the Labour Force Surveys. International experience suggests that the best method for these surveys is to approach a sample of households to identify informal sector enterprises, and then interview a sample of these enterprises. The ILO Bureau of Statistics intends to release a manual on the conduct of Informal Sector Surveys in the near future.

Current statistics: Establishment-based collections

1. Establishment-based surveys cannot provide comprehensive coverage of the whole population, but they do provide important and reliable results for the formal sector. In Nepal, the collection of labour statistics from establishments is uncoordinated and fragmented.
2. The following surveys have been conducted recently:

• • (a) Agricultural Census, 1991/92: This Census was carried out by the CBS to obtain data on agricultural production, but also included information on permanent and temporary employment in agriculture.

    (b) Census of Manufacturing Establishments, 1991/92: This Census was carried out by the CBS mainly for data on production, value added, stocks, etc but it also collected information on employment by sex, whether Nepalese or not, and occupation group. Results were published in 1993.

    (c) Annual surveys of manufacturing establishments: These surveys are also conducted by the CBS and include data on employment and wages, although the surveys are mainly intended to provide value added information for national accounts. The surveys cover all manufacturing establishments with 10 or more persons engaged. The results for the 1994/95 survey were published in July 1996. For various reasons, including timeliness, there has been a suggestion that these annual surveys may cease, even though they provide essential data on employment, wages and labour productivity.

    (d) Multi-Purpose Production Survey, Rural 1988/89 and Urban 1989/90: These household-based surveys of small-scale establishments in selected wards were conducted by the CBS and included data on employment and wages in the informal sector. Coverage was restricted to manufacturing, cottage industries, retail trade and non-mechanised transport.

    (e) Manpower and Training Needs Survey (most recent, 1995/96): This annual survey of manufacturing establishments is conducted in seven selected districts each year by the Department of Labour under the Employment and Exchange Service Project (EESP). The selected districts are changed from time to time, and the establishment listing differs from that of the CBS. Data are collected on job vacancies, employment (by sex and whether Nepalese or not) and related information. Processing is done manually and a limited range of results are published within 12 months of the data of collection in the Employment Services Report and the Annual Labour Statistics publication.

    (f) Skill Development Opinion Survey (most recent, 1995/96): This survey of Village Development Committees is conducted at the same time as the Manpower and Training Needs Survey by the Department of Labour, and follows the same processing methods and timing. The results are not published but used within the Department.

    (g) Survey on Minimum Wages and Working Conditions, 1996: This one-off survey was conducted by the FNCCI under arrangements with the Japanese employers' group Nikkeiren which is sponsoring similar surveys in other countries. The survey has a sample of 400 enterprises (200 of their direct members and 200 members of district business organisations). It collects data on employment (by sex, Nepalese or not and occupation), capital, wages, allowances and working conditions, and future labour demand. A report of results is expected after November 1996.

    (h) Productivity Awareness Survey, 1996: This is another one-off survey sponsored by Nikkeiren which is expected to be conducted in November 1996 by the FNCCI. It is to cover a sample of public and private enterprises using a standard questionnaire to be provided by the international sponsor. The standard questionnaire collects data on employment (by occupation), and attitudes and opinions of the enterprise to various productivity issues.

Recommendations: Establishment-based collections

1. The CBS needs to update and maintain a list of all establishments with 10 or more persons engaged in all industrial sectors, and include in the list all central, regional and local government agencies and units and all state-owned enterprises. The list should include name, address, industrial group, institutional sector (private, government and parastatal) as well as a measure of employment size to facilitate subsequent sample selection.
2. This national listing of establishments should be the central listing which is accessible to all agencies, and should be used by the Department of Labour to improve its labour inspection and other administrative systems.
3. The CBS already maintains a national listing of manufacturing establishments under its Statistics Act. However, further legislation to permit its expansion and use by all agencies may be necessary.
4. After improving the listing of establishments, the CBS should revise its programme of establishment-based surveys.
5. In the long term, the CBS should aim to undertake:

• • (a) Annual establishment-based survey of employment, wages and (perhaps) job vacancies relating to all establishments with 10 or more persons engaged in all sectors (public and private, and all branches of economic activity); and

    (b) Surveys on training needs and conditions of work every three years or so, also covering the whole formal sector.

1. These surveys covering the whole formal sector will require considerable resources and may not be practicable in the immediate future. Therefore, it is more prudent to recommend the following immediate activities:

• • (a) Annual Surveys of Manufacturing Establishments should continue, and should be extended to cover Mining and Quarrying and Supply of Electricity, Water and Gas industrial groups. These surveys should continue to measure employment and wage information, as well as production inputs and outputs, value added (and hence labour productivity), capital assets (and hence capital-labour ratios) and related information for national accounting purposes as in the present Manufacturing Surveys.

    (b) Action should be taken to measure employment and wages in the public sector (government and state-owned enterprises) by accessing government records - see administrative statistics below.

1. It is suggested that the CBS has better skills and survey experience to undertake and process large-scale establishment surveys and that the EESP should concentrate on compiling data from administrative records. Some small-scale research surveys and case studies may also be conducted occasionally.
2. If the programme of establishment-based surveys described above was implemented, the existing EESP's establishment-based surveys would be unnecessary and resources could be released for improving statistics based on administrative records and for the action mentioned in paragraph 75b.
3. Finally, as noted elsewhere in this report, the employment of Indians in Nepal is of growing concern but is not adequately measured at present. It is recommended that the collection of establishment-level data on the employment of Indians should be pilot-tested to assess mis-reporting. If shown to be successful, employment data should be collected in establishment-based surveys for Nepalese, Indians and other nationals.
4. Current statistics: Labour statistics based on administrative records
5. The Employment and Exchange Service Project (EESP) of the Department of Labour produces labour statistics from the following administrative systems:

• • (a) Employment Services: These statistics cover the period from 1985/86 to 1994/95 (as at July 1996). However, the results are not comparable through time because different districts have been covered each year. More resources are required in order to provide employment services in every district each year, and therefore achieve comparable data.

    The matching of jobseekers and job vacancies is made by memory of the labour officials and without using an occupational classification. This work would be easier if records were coded and matched accordingly. Finally, as in most developing countries, relatively few jobseekers register with the employment service and the count of jobseekers is an under-statement of total unemployment.

    (b) Factory inspections: The various forms used by the inspectors include data on employment, working hours, leave, medical care and other welfare provisions, and safety and health matters, as well as reports on action taken against violators. Resources are insufficient for all establishments to be inspected annually and coverage is therefore incomplete.

    (c) Industrial disputes: These have data on date and duration, type of complaint, and means of settlement. Data on the number of workers directly involved, cause, industry and other important characteristics do not appear on the reporting forms and therefore cannot be tabulated. In addition, the statistics of disputes and grievances only cover those reported by the district labour offices, and it is believed that many disputes are overlooked. It is recommended that unions also notify the Department of grievances and disputes known to them.

    (d) Industrial accidents: These reports have data on age, sex, occupation and "skill" of the accident victim; industry and employment size of the establishment; date, time, place, type, cause, and result of the accident. But the bodily location, severity, agency and other characteristics of the accident do not seem to be recorded. As in most developing countries, not all accidents are reported because there is no incentive to do so. The Department receives assistance from the ILO's regional programme in occupational safety and health (ILO/FINNIDA's ASIA-OSH).

    (e) Alien work permits: This system is not well enforced and less than 200 work permits are issued each year. Most foreign workers are Indian nationals who do not require a visa. The work permit record has data on nationality and occupation, but not on age, sex, educational level, skills or industry. The information on skills and qualifications is particularly useful in identifying what training needs should be promoted in Nepal to localise employment.

    (f) Overseas labour migration by Nepalese: These statistics are based on requests for clearance for overseas employment submitted to the Department of Labour. Not all Nepalese make this request (especially those moving seasonally to work in India) and so the statistics extensively under-report the true situation.

    (g) Trade union membership: These are based on union registrations with the Department.

    (h) Output of Skill Development Training Centres and Vocational Training Centres: The number of graduates by district and subject of training are compiled.

1. In April 1996, the Department published the first issue of "Statistical information on labour administration, Nepal". This is a most satisfactory summary of available statistics derived from the administrative systems and the Department is to be congratulated. Some further improvements are possible in the publication to:

• • (a) improve presentation and the readability of the statistics (such as sub-totalling);

    (b) add more detail for statistics on industrial disputes, industrial accidents, trade union membership; and

    (c) condense some of the detail on the labour market information for the six selected districts and employment service data for varying districts so that year on year comparisons are possible.

1. The various trade unions also compile internal reports on working conditions, industrial disputes, industrial accidents and related matters. The General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) publishes a quarterly "Workers" bulletin which contains statistics on union membership, grievances/disputes, and dismissals/retrenchments. But the reports of individual disputes and accidents are not shared with the Department of Labour, and consequently these may be omitted from the Department's statistics.
2. Recommendations: Labour statistics based on administrative records
3. As shown in paragraph 79, the basic systems upon which these statistics are based are incomplete and ineffective, and many of the statistics need review and improvement in respect of content, processing methods and tabulation. This work should be undertaken in conjunction with a review of the administration systems themselves.
4. A copy of the ILO's "Current International Standards in Labour Statistics" was left with the CBS and Department of Labour, and it is hoped that the Department will use this publication to review its statistics based on administrative records. ILO specialists are available to assist in this developmental work if required.
5. The role and effectiveness of the EESP needs improvement. It is recommended that it should also be responsible for maintaining a data base of labour market information from all sources. This data base does not necessarily have to be computerised at this time. The Project should also monitor and advise the CBS on the coordination of labour statistical activities in Nepal.
6. It is recommended that the Department of Labour requests the Ministry of General Administration to provide a professional statistician from the Statistical Service to strengthen the EESP.
7. Finally, it is recommended that the EESP should arrange for statistics to be compiled from other ministries as follows:

• • (a) Statistics on public sector employment and wages should be compiled from government payroll/personnel records. These should include employment at all levels of government (central, regional and local) as well as state-owned enterprises which fall under the control of certain ministries.

    Contact should be made with the Ministry of General Administration (in respect of permanent employees) and with other ministries and public sector units (in respect of temporary and other employees). Data collection may be made in collaboration with important Parliamentary committees such as the Public Accounts Committee and State Management Committee which have a strong interest in these statistics.

    This work may cease when annual economy-wide establishment surveys are initiated by the CBS as recommended earlier.

    (b) Statistics on agricultural wage levels. These should be obtained monthly by the Department of Labour through the Ministry of Agriculture's extension officers and relate to the minimum and maximum wages paid to employees in selected agricultural occupations in their district. The CBS and/or Department of Labour district offices may collaborate to collect these data from the extension workers.

Other labour statistics

1. The EESP has also conducted tracer surveys of trainee graduates from the various Skill Development Training Centres and Vocational Training Centres. Four such surveys have been undertaken since 1981, the most recently in 1993/94 in respect of the 1992/93 output. This survey was carried out under contract by Applied Research Development Study Centre of Kathmandu and published by the Department of Labour in 1994.
2. Although some statistics on the current status of trained workers will be available from Labour Force Surveys, tracer surveys have a useful role and should be continued by the EESP.

Chapter 4 Statistical capabilities and infrastructure

Statistical capabilities

1. As shown in the Annexes prepared by the national counterparts, the Central Bureau of Statistics and Department of Labour have adequate staff resources, although more training is required in statistical computing (both agencies), applied statistics (CBS) and data analysis (Department of Labour).
2. Central Bureau of Statistics
3. The CBS has a large staff of 529 people of which 93 are professional statisticians. The Household Survey Division (which is preparing for the forthcoming Labour Force Survey) is headed by a Deputy Director and is supported by six Statistical Officers.
4. Most of the professional statistician are young and inexperienced. Many are fresh university graduates who need training in all forms of applied statistics and statistical computing, as well as in interpreting user needs and designing an appropriate statistical system to meet those needs.
5. In 1994, a system of 33 district offices of the CBS were set up around the country. Each district office covers two to three districts and is headed by a professional statistician. The district offices are expected to collect and disseminate statistics, but will also assist District Development Committees and district officers of government ministries in the statistical aspects of their work.
6. The district offices have a total of 494 staff positions but there are many unfilled vacancies as at July 1996.
7. In the computing area, the CBS has five 486 DX desktop computers, but more are needed, especially in the district offices.
8. As already mentioned in paragraphs 63-64, statistical capacities for data collection are being constrained by low salaries and field allowances. This will continue until these allowances are increased.
9. Department of Labour
10. As shown in the Annex, there are no professional statisticians in the Department of Labour. However, there are three economists and eight others engaged in statistical activities.
11. The Department of Labour has seven sections as follows:

• • (a) Labour Laws and Industrial Relations Section;

    (b) Employment Promotion Section;

    (c) ILO and Trade Union Section;

    (d) Planning and Monitoring Section (relating to skill development planning);

    (e) Administration Section;

    (f) Accounts Section;

    (g) Inspection and Manpower Section.

1. The last section (Inspection and Manpower Section) has responsibility for surveys of labour market information and has established a number of development projects:

• • (a) Establishment of National Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Centre;

    (b) Strengthening of skill development and employment service activities;

    (c) Improvement and development of labour inspection system and industrial relations;

    (d) Development and improvement of social security and employment injury;

    (e) Strengthening the Employment and Exchange Service project (which includes an objective to improve the labour market information system);

    (f) Strengthening the programme for the Overseas Employment Service;

    (g) Skill Development Programme for Women;

    (h) Skill Development Training Programme in the Construction Trades;

    (i) Operation of Employment Exchange Services Programme for educated women.

1. The compilation of statistics derived from administrative records and other labour market information falls on the Employment and Exchange Service Project. This Project was established in 1980 to provide employment services to the unemployed, appraise the effectiveness of basic skill training, assess training needs, prepare curriculum and educational material for the Skills Development Training Centres, collect and analyse labour market information and disseminate it to relevant agencies.
2. The EESP has not been completely effective in its last function. There is no data base of labour market information which includes statistics from other agencies and the statistics which it does collect are fragmented and not comparable through time.
3. Nevertheless, there have been recent improvements in data presentation, mainly due to the interest of the Deputy Director. These improvements may not be sustainable should he be transferred or promoted. It would be better if the EESP was headed by a professional statistician and if he controlled all the Department's data compilation and data management functions.
4. It is recommended that the Department should request the Ministry of General Administration to provide a statistician from the Statistical Service as soon as possible.
5. The EESP should progressively add to the data base of labour statistics which has been set up by the current review and to be the Government unit responsible for oversight of the system of labour statistics. The Project should work in close coordination with the National Planning Commission and CBS.
6. The EESP's functions should include the following:

• • (a) To compile the Department's statistics based on administrative records and to carry out other special purpose activities in labour statistics (case studies, tracer surveys, etc);

    (b) To monitor and advise the CBS on the coordination of all labour statistical activities in Nepal;

    (c) To work closely with the CBS with research in labour statistics, including the development of a national occupational classification - see below);

    (d) To maintain a data base (not necessarily computerised) of all labour statistics, and to prepare an annual Year Book of Labour Statistics to disseminate this information.

1. The existing staff of the Department of Labour need extensive training in statistics. The district officers of the Department who are engaged in reporting on the administrative systems need training in basic statistical skills such as classifying, recording and compiling. For head office staff, training is required in these basic skills as well as in statistical computer processing, and data analysis, data interpretation and presentation.
2. The recent new publication entitled "Statistical information on labour administration, Nepal" (see comments in paragraph 80) is a most satisfactory new publication relating to detailed statistics based on administrative records and should be continued. In addition, consideration should be given to publishing an annual Year Book of Labour Statistics which summarises and draws together the key labour statistics from all sources, not just the administrative ones.
3. The Department of Labour has three desktop computers, but will need additional computers and associated equipment and software. This is especially so for both district office and head office if some of the administrative systems are computerised. The Department may wish to request the ILO to assist the Department in this work and in a general review of the administrative systems.
4. Other agencies and organisations
5. The National Planning Commission Secretariat has only limited capacity for data analysis or interpretation, and requires training in this field. A summary of its statistical needs appears in the annexes.
6. The unions (General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions GEFONT, Nepal Trade Union Congress NTUC and Nepal Trade Union Federation NTUF) also have very limited statistical capabilities, but GEFONT produces some statistics in its quarterly publication "Workers" and has marginally more capacity than the others.
7. Training of both NPC Secretariat and union officials in data interpretation and analysis is recommended.
8. The employer group FNCCI is somewhat more advanced than the other agencies and has produced a useful overview publication "Nepal and the world: A statistical profile, 1996", as well as engaging in direct data collection from its members.
9. Statistical coordination
10. The Statistics Act 2015 provides the Central Bureau of Statistics with the responsibility for undertaking statistical collections and for standardising and coordinating all statistical activities. Under the Act, all statistical surveys by other agencies require CBS approval.
11. The CBS is assisted in statistical coordination by the National Statistics Council which was set up in 1988 and now meets two or three times each year. It is chaired by the Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission and comprises representatives from various government, parastatal and university organisations.
12. Despite the high priority given to labour and employment issues by the government, the Ministry of Labour is not a member of this Council. It is strongly recommended that the Ministry should request Council membership.
13. Regular formal contact between users and producers of labour statistics is also required outside the National Statistical Council. At present, the CBS has a technical committee of users advising them on the development of the proposed 1997 Labour Force Survey. This is a common feature of their approach to survey development and is recommended. However, these technical committees are transitory and are disbanded after each new survey.
14. It would be preferable to establish a permanent sub-committee on labour statistics under the National Statistical Council. This would be a sectoral group which would advise on statistical priorities, methods and standards specifically on labour statistics. Representatives should include Government and non-government agencies.
15. In addition to these formal contacts between users and producers, informal contacts should be maintained between the key players in the system of labour statistics. The team of national counterparts which was created for the current review should continue to maintain liaison and be self-supporting as much as possible (for example CBS can provide training to the Department of Labour and the NPC and the Ministry of Labour can mutually discuss data interpretation and evaluation).
16. Statistical infrastructure
17. A sound system of labour statistics will require a supporting infrastructure of tools and standards. A single national population frame is recommended for both household-based and establishment-based surveys, as well as standard classifications and definitions.
18. Population frames
19. The household surveys population frame appears adequate and will be maintained for growth areas as well as after each population census.
20. As already mentioned, the Central Bureau of Statistics has a register of establishments, but this mainly relates to the manufacturing sector. It is recommended that this business register be expanded to be the nationally centralised listing of establishments in all industrial and institutional sectors. Such a listing is difficult to maintain but it would be useful to many different agencies as well as being the population frame for establishment-based statistical surveys.

1. The Department of Labour would improve its coverage of labour inspections and other administrative functions if it used such a national listing of businesses. The CBS has indicated that names, addresses, industry codes and broad measures of employment size are not considered confidential and would be available on request.
2. Standard classifications
3. The current Nepal Standard Industrial Classification (NSIC) is based on the out-of-date International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC), Revision 2. It is recommended that NSIC be amended to conform with the current international standard (Revision 3).
4. Occupational data are generally coded using the 1968 version of the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO). The development of a national occupational classification based on the current (1988 version) of ISCO is recommended, and Nepalese officials from CBS and EESP should be trained in this work. In the interim, ISCO-88 should be adopted as the Nepalese standard.
5. These occupational and industrial standard classifications are not widely used, particularly within the Department of Labour. All agencies should be encouraged to use these standard classifications in order to facilitate comparability between different data sources.

Chapter 5

Summary of Recommendations

1. The following is a brief overview of the recommendations contained in this report:
2. Statistical output
3. More comprehensive, reliable and timely statistics are urgently required. Priority should be given to:

• • (a) The 1997 national Labour Force Survey. This survey should also include measurement of employment in the informal sector, as well as overall employment, unemployment and underemployment. Funding of this survey is at risk and needs urgent attention.

    (b) Thereafter a programme of household-based surveys which include questions on economic activity. The programme should include five-yearly national Labour Force Surveys, five-yearly Household Budget Surveys and five-yearly Informal Sector Surveys. In due course, annual Urban Labour Force Surveys should be considered.

    (c) CBS to improve the existing listing of formal sector establishments for use as a population frame for establishment-based statistical surveys in all sectors and also for use by other agencies (such as the Department of Labour in labour inspections and other administrative functions).

    (d) Continuing the annual Surveys of Manufacturing Establishments and expanding it to cover "Mining and Quarrying" and "Electricity, Water and Gas Supply".

    (e) In due course, implementing annual establishment-based surveys of employment, wages and (perhaps) job vacancies, covering the private sector, government sector and State-owned enterprises. Consideration should be given to the measurement of employment of Indian nationals in these surveys.

    (f) An establishment-based survey of training needs and conditions of work in the formal sector every three years or so.

    (g) All the above surveys should be conducted by the CBS in collaboration with relevant ministries and National Planning Commission. The Department of Labour should concentrate on improving its statistics based on administrative records and small-scale and research studies, including tracer studies of graduate trainees.

    (h) The Department of Labour should improve the labour administration system and associated statistics.

    (i) Department of Labour should request Ministry of Agriculture's extension officers to report monthly on the minimum and maximum wages paid to employees in selected agricultural occupations in their district.

    (j) Department of Labour should obtain annual statistics on public sector employment based on payroll/personnel data held by the Ministry of General Administration (permanent employees) and other ministries and public sector units (other employees).

    (k) The EESP should compile a data base of labour market information using statistics from all sources including other agencies and make this available to all users. In addition, the key statistics from these other sources should be published together with the main results from administrative records in a Year Book of Labour Statistics.

Coordination of labour statistics

• • (a) The Ministry of Labour should be a member of the National Statistical Council.

    (b) A sub-committee of the National Statistical Council should be established to deal specifically with labour statistics.

Statistical capacities

• • (a) Strengthening and improving the effectiveness of the Employment and Exchange Service Project in the Department of Labour.

    (b) A professional statistician to be located in the Department of Labour.

    (c) Training in labour statistics is required for staff of the Department of Labour and Central Bureau of Statistics.

    (d) Additional computing resources, especially in district offices and head office of the Department of Labour when the administrative systems are improved.

    (e) Allowances for field staff to increase.

     

Standard classifications

• • (a) Standard classification of occupations and industries which are compatible with current international standards to be more widely used.

    (b) A national occupational classification based on International Standard Classification of Occupations, 1988 should be developed.

The next step

The Department of Labour may wish to incorporate the above proposals into its draft project proposal for strengthening and improving labour market information in Nepal. It is recommended that the revised project proposal should be presented in separate components, covering household surveys, establishment surveys and administrative systems separately to facilitate donor funding. Collaboration with the Central Bureau of Statistics will be essential in producing the revised proposals. The ILO would be pleased to provide technical assistance in this work and in finding possible donors.   ANNEX A REFERENCES

Central Bureau of Statistics: "Statistical Year Book of Nepal, 1995", June 1995

Central Bureau of Statistics: "Survey of small manufacturing establishments, Nepal, 1991/92", January 1994

Central Bureau of Statistics: "Annual survey of manufacturing establishments, Nepal, 1993/94", July 1995 (collected in 1994/95 in respect of 1993/94 year)

Central Bureau of Statistics: "Population monograph of Nepal", March 1995 (analysis of 1991 Census results)

Department of Labour: "Statistical information on labour administration, Nepal", April 1996.

Department of Labour: "Newsletter - Information on labour administration, Nepal", (quarterly).

Department of Labour: "Labour administration: Annual report" (most recent, 1994/95).

CIS Centre, Department of Labour: "Newsletter - The Nepal Occupational Safety and Health Information Network (NAP-ASSIGNED)", (most recent, March 1996).

Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI): "Nepal and the world - A statistical profile, 1996", March 1996

General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT): "Workers" (quarterly) Issue for May 1996 has statistics on union membership (1995/96), grievances/disputes (1995) and dismissals/retrenchments (1995/96).

United Nations Statistical Office/International Labour Office: Report of a mission to Nepal, 11 to 20 November 1991 by A.J. Turner (UNSO, New York) and R.J. Pember (ILO, Addis Ababa), November 1991. ANNEX B LIST OF MAIN CONTACTS

Ministry of Labour

• • • • • • • • • • • • Mr Ananda Ballabh Joshi Secretary for Labour

                        Miss Renuka Manandhar Under Secretary

Department of Labour

• • • • • • • • • • • • Dr Govind P. Regmi Acting Director General

                        Mr S. N. Vaidya Deputy Director

Mr D. R. Tamrakar Deputy Director

Mrs Bijaya Laxmi Vaidya Senior Officer

National Planning Commission

• • • • • • • • • • • • Hon. Dr Bal Gopal Member

Baidya

Dr Rabindra K. Member-Secretary

Shakya

Mr Gyanendra Kumar Section Officer

Shrestha

Central Bureau of Statistics

• • • • • • • • • • • • Mr Keshab Raj Sharma Director-General

                        Mr Keshav Bahadur Deputy Director, Household

                        Karmacharya Surveys Division

Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI)

• • • • • • • • • • • • Mr Anoop S. J. B. Rana Chairman, Employers' Council and

Ex-Officio Vice President

• • • • • • • • • • • • Mr Megh Nath Neupane Secretary

                        Mr J. P. Agrawal Executive member (Chief Executive of Nepal Brewery Company Pvt Ltd)

                        Dr Binod Hari Joshi Statistician and Joint secretary, Research and Information Division

Annex B (continued)

General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT)

• • • • • • • • • • • • Mr Bishnu Rimal Secretary General

Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC)

• • • • • • • • • • • • Mr Khila Nath Dahal Vice President

Nepal Trade Union Federation (NTUF)

• • • • • • • • • • • • Mr Ganesh Shah General Secretary

                        Mahendra Anand Chairman

ILO

• • • • • • • • • • • • Mr H. S. S. Fonseka Officer in charge, ILO Kathmandu (Team leader, project NEP/94/01/WFP, "Support to the rehabilitation of flood damaged rural infrastructure and agricultural lands")

                        Mr Gagan Rajbhandari Programme Officer

                        Mr Hirak Ghosh Sub-regional adviser (South Asia), IPEC

Mr Yadav K. Amatya National Programme Coordinator

(IPEC)

• • • • • • • • • • • • Mr Nomaan Majid ILO/SAAT Employment and Labour Market Policy Specialist

World Bank

• • • • • • • • • • • • Mr Para Suriyaarachchi Senior Economist

                        Mr Ram Chandra Mishra Program Officer

                        Dr Shakti P Shrestha Consultant

International Monetary Fund

• • • • • • • • • • • • Mr Erich Spitäller Senior Resident Representative

UNFPA/Country Support Team for South and West Asia

Mr Rafiqul Huda ILO adviser on population and

• • • • • • • • • • • • Chaudhury development planning and policy

Annex B (continued)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

• • • • • • • • • • • • Ms Carroll Long Resident Representative

ANNEX C SUMMARY OF AVAILABLE LABOUR STATISTICS

1. Title of data collection/compilation:Population Census
2. Reference period:22nd June 1991 Census Day
3. Agency responsible:Central Bureau of Statistics
4. Summary of data content:Demography, Employment
5. Methodology: Census /x/ Households /x/
6. Sample /_/ of Establishments /_/
7. Compiled from administrative records /_/
8. Copy of questionnaire(s) or proforma provided? No
9. Adjustment for non-response?
10. Not stated.
11. Processing and tabulation : Manual /_/ Computerised /x/
12. If computerised, name of software used:
13. Centrally Processed DBase Clipper
14. How is data disseminated?
15. Publication & Seminar
16. Coverage: Census
17. Data collection period 15 days in June
18. Frequency: One off /_/ Regular /x/ Ten yearly
19. If regular, any periods for which estimates are missing? No
20. Definitions, concepts:
21. Comparable with international standards? Yes /x/ No /_/

• • Unemployment not measured in accordance with international standards.

For time series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time, (give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

No

Are results inconsistent in definition, or any other way, with results from other sources?

• • Unemployment not comparable with data expected from 1996 surveys.

    •  

      • • • Publication(s): Yes, "Population Monograph of Nepal" and others.

Copy provided? /x/

Unpublished tables as well as more recent results are available on request?

Yes /x/ No /_/

Are computer files of "clean" unit data are available for more detailed analysis by Government agencies on request?

Yes /_/ No /_/ Not stated

Results available at:

Provincial/regional level: /x/

Urban/rural separately: /x/

Analysis: How widely used and analysed are the results?

• • Widely

Contact person:

• • • • • • • • • • • • Mr. Keshav Raj Sharma, CBS Telephone 229406

Annex C - Summary of available statistics (continued)

1. Title of data collection/compilation:Agriculture Sample Census, Nepal
2. Reference period: 1991-92
3. Agency responsible: Central Bureau of Statistics
4. Summary of data content:

• • Economically Active Population, Number of homes worked on and off the farm, Permanent and temporary agricultural worker.

Methodology: Census /_/ Households /x/

Sample /x/ of Establishments /_/

Compiled from administrative records /_/

• • • • • • • • If sample, sample size: 5100 wards or a combination of wards

                •  

                  • 123,000 holdings

Sampling method: (stratification, weighting method).

• • Multi stage stratified sampling, self-weighting method

Copy of questionnaire(s) or proforma provided? No

Adjustment for non-response? No

Processing and tabulation : Manual /_/ Computerised /x/

If computerised, name of software used:

• • D-Base and Clipper

How is data disseminated?

• • Through publications and diskette.

Coverage:

All Nepal.

• • • • • • • • Data collection period January-March 1992 for 60 non-Himalayan districts

                •  

                  • • • April-June 1992 for 15 Himalayan districts

Frequency: One off /_/ Regular /x/ Decennial

If regular, any periods for which estimates are missing? No

Definitions, concepts:

Comparable with international standards? Yes /_/ No /_/

• • Not applicable.

For time series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time, (give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

• • No

Are results inconsistent in definition, or any other way, with results from other sources?

• • Not stated.

    •  

      • • • Publication(s): National Sample Census of Agriculture

            • • 1991-92

Copy provided? /_/ No

Unpublished tables as well as more recent results are available on request?

Yes /_/ No /_/ Not stated.

• • Not stated.

Are computer files of "clean" unit data are available for more detailed analysis by Government agencies on request?

Yes /_/ No /_/ Not stated

Results available at:

Provincial/regional level: /x/

Urban/rural separately: /_/

Analysis: How widely used and analysed are the results?

Widely used.

Contact person:

Mr. Tunga Siromani Bastola Telephone 245748

Annex C - Summary of available statistics (continued)

1. Title of data collection/compilation:Household Budget Survey

• • • • • • Reference period: Mid 1994 - mid 1996

            •  

              • Agency responsible: Nepal Rastra Bank

Summary of data content:

• • Demography, Housing, Expenditure, Income

Methodology: Census /_/ Households /x/

Sample /x/ of Establishments /_/

Compiled from administrative records /_/

If sample, sample size: 2500 Households

Sampling method: (stratification, weighting method).

Both

Copy of questionnaire(s) or proforma provided? /_/ No

Adjustment for non-response? Not stated

Processing and tabulation : Manual /_/ Computerised /x/

If computerised, name of software used:

How is data disseminated?

• • Publication is expected.

Coverage:

• • Urban Nepal, excludes institutionalized and homeless population.

Data collection period July 95 - June 96

Frequency: One off /_/ Regular /x/

(1984-85, 1995-96, 1996-99)

If regular, any periods for which estimates are missing? No

Definitions, concepts:

Comparable with international standards? Yes /x/ No /_/

For time series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time, (give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

• • None

Are results inconsistent in definition, or any other way, with results from other sources?

• • No

Publication(s):

• • "Multi-Purpose Household Budget Survey, 1984-85" (Rastriyal Bank, 1987).

Copy provided? /_/ No

Unpublished tables as well as more recent results are available on request?

Yes /x/ No /_/

Are computer files of "clean" unit data are available for more detailed analysis by Government agencies on request?

Yes /_/ No /x/ 1984-85 - No

Results available at:

Provincial/regional level: /_/

Urban/rural separately: /_/ Urban only

Analysis: How widely used and analysed are the results?

• • For CPI weighting and poverty assessment.

Contact person:

• • Mr. Surjeet Shrestha, Nepal Rastra Bank

Annex C- Summary of available statistics (continued)

1. Title of data collection/compilation:Nepal Living Standards Survey
2. Reference period: 1995-96
3. Agency responsible: Central Bureau of Statistics
4. Summary of data content:

• • Demography, housing, expenditure, education, health, economic activities, agriculture, credit and savings.

Methodology: Census /_/ Households /x/

Sample /x/ of Establishments /_/

Compiled from administrative records /_/

If sample, sample size: 3388 households

Sampling method: (stratification, weighting method).

Both

Copy of questionnaire(s) or proforma provided? /x/

Adjustment for non-response? Replacement

Processing and tabulation : Manual /_/ Computerised /x/

If computerised, name of software used: STATA

How is data disseminated?

• • Through various publication and by providing raw data.

    •  

      • Coverage: All Nepal, excludes institutionalized and homeless population.

Data collection period July 1995-June 1996

Frequency: One off /x/ Regular /_/

If regular, any periods for which estimates are missing? No

Definitions, concepts:

Comparable with international standards? Yes /x/ No /_/

• • But measurement of "had a job but not at work" is unclear.

For time series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time, (give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

• • Not applicable

Are results inconsistent in definition, or any other way, with results from other sources?

• • In the process of analysis.

Publication(s):

• • To come.

Copy provided? /_/

Unpublished tables as well as more recent results are available on request?

Yes /x/ No /_/ (expected)

Are computer files of "clean" unit data are available for more detailed analysis by Government agencies on request?

Yes /x/ No /_/

Results available at:

Provincial/regional level: /x/ But note small sample size

Urban/rural separately: /x/

Analysis: How widely used and analysed are the results?

Contact person:

• • Mr. K.B. Karmacharya Telephone 241803

Annex C- Summary of available statistics (continued)

1. Title of data collection/compilation:Socio-economics Demographic and Migration Survey (Urban)
2. Reference period: 1996

• • • • • • • • Agency responsible: Central Bureau of Statistics, funded by UNFPA

Summary of data content:

Migration, demography, labour force.

Methodology: Census /_/ Households /x/

Sample /x/ of Establishments /_/

Compiled from administrative records /_/

If sample, sample size: 4000 households

Sampling method: (stratification, weighting method).

P.P.S. Systematic

Copy of questionnaire(s) or proforma provided? /_/ No

Adjustment for non-response?

• • "Non responses will be calculated".

Processing and tabulation : Manual /_/ Computerised /x/

If computerised, name of software used:

DBase, SPSS, STATA.

How is data disseminated?

• • Publication expected.

    •  

      • Coverage: Urban Nepal excludes institutionalized and homeless population.

Data collection period Mid May-Mid June 1996

Frequency: One off /x/ Regular /_/

If regular, any periods for which estimates are missing?

Not applicable

Definitions, concepts:

Comparable with international standards? Yes /x/ No /_/

For time series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time, (give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

• • Not applicable

Are results inconsistent in definition, or any other way, with results from other sources?

• • Not stated

Publication(s): To come

Copy provided? /_/

Unpublished tables as well as more recent results are available on request?

• • • • • • Yes /_/ No /_/ Not stated.

Are computer files of "clean" unit data are available for more detailed analysis by Government agencies on request?

Yes /_/ No /_/ Not stated.

Results available at:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • Provincial/regional level: /_/ No

Urban/rural separately: /_/ No

Analysis: How widely used and analysed are the results?

• • Not stated.

Contact person:

• • • • • • • • • • Mr. Bishnu D. Dangol Telephone 245947

Annex C- Summary of available statistics (continued)

1. Title of data collection/compilation:Employment, migration, birth, death and contraception.
2. Reference period: 1995/96

• • • • • • • • Agency responsible: Central Department of Population Studies, Tribhuvan University

                •  

                  • Summary of data content: Labour force, migration, birth, death, contraception and demographic variables, child labour, time use (sub-sample).

Methodology: Census /_/ Households /x/

Sample /x/ of Establishments /_/

Compiled from administrative records /_/

• • • • • • • • If sample, sample size: 19000 households, of which 14690 households (4950 households, 9740 rural) was for the employment and migration component.

Sampling method: (stratification, weighting method). Stratification.

Copy of questionnaire(s) or proforma provided? /x/

With IPEC Kathmandu

Adjustment for non-response?

• • "Non response rate will be supplied".

Processing and tabulation : Manual /_/ Computerised /x/

If computerised, name of software used:

• • DBase, SPSS.

How is data disseminated?

• • Seminar and publication.

Coverage: National, coverage not stated.

Data collection period Jan-February 1996

Frequency: One off /x/ Regular /_/

If regular, any periods for which estimates are missing?

Definitions, concepts:

Comparable with international standards? Yes /x/ No /_/

For time series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time, (give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

• • Not stated

Are results inconsistent in definition, or any other way, with results from other sources?

• • Not stated

Publication(s): To come, October 1996

Copy provided? /x/

Unpublished tables as well as more recent results are available on request?

• • • • • • Yes /_/ No /_/ Not stated.

Are computer files of "clean" unit data are available for more detailed analysis by Government agencies on request?

Yes /_/ No /_/ Not stated

Results available at:

Provincial/regional level: /x/

Urban/rural separately: /x/

Analysis: How widely used and analysed are the results?

• • Being processed at July 1996.

Contact person:

• • Dr. Bal Kumar K.C.

(Ministry of Population &

Environment) Telephone 212535

Annex C- Summary of available statistics (continued)

1. Title of data collection/compilation:Census of Manufacturing Establishments Nepal
2. Reference period: 1991-92
3. Agency responsible: Central Bureau of Statistics
4. Summary of data content:

• • Persons engaged by Nationality, sex and by NSIC, employment and earning by NSIC.

Methodology: Census /x/ Households /_/

Sample /_/ of Establishments /x/

Compiled from administrative records /_/

If sample, sample size: Not applicable

Sampling method: (stratification, weighting method).

• • Not applicable.

    •  

      • • • • • • • • • • • • • Copy of questionnaire(s) or proforma provided? /_/ No

Adjustment for non-response?

Not stated.

Processing and tabulation : Manual /_/ Computerised /x/

If computerised, name of software used:

• • DBase, SPSS

How is data disseminated?

• • Publication

Coverage: All Nepal.

Data collection period Oct 92-Apr 93

Frequency: One off /_/ Regular /x/ Five yearly

If regular, any periods for which estimates are missing?

Definitions, concepts:

Comparable with international standards? Yes /x/ No /_/

For time series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time, (give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

Are results inconsistent in definition, or any other way, with results from other sources?

• • • • • • Publication(s): Census of Manufacturing Establishments Nepal (1991-92)

Copy provided? /x/

Unpublished tables as well as more recent results are available on request?

Yes /_/ No /x/

Are computer files of "clean" unit data are available for more detailed analysis by Government agencies on request?

Yes /_/ No /x/

Results available at:

Provincial/regional level: /x/

Urban/rural separately: /x/

Analysis: How widely used and analysed are the results?

• • Widely used

Contact person:

• • • • • • • • • • • • Mr. Probod Sagar Dhakal Telephone 245748

Annex C- Summary of available statistics (continued)

1. Title of data collection/compilation:Annual Survey of Manufacturing Establishments
2. Reference period: Annual, most recent 1995-96
3. Agency responsible: Central Bureau of Statistics

Summary of data content:

• • Persons engaged by Nationality, sex and by NSIC, employment and earning by NSIC.

Methodology: Census /_/ Households /_/

Sample /x/ of Establishments /x/

Compiled from administrative records /_/

If sample, sample size:

• • All establishments from category A (50 or more engaged) and 10% from category B (10 to 49 engaged). (Categories differ in certain industry groups.)

    Sampling method: (stratification, weighting method): Simple random sampling

    • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Copy of questionnaire(s) or proforma provided? /_/ No

Adjustment for non-response? Not stated.

Processing and tabulation : Manual /_/ Computerised /x/

If computerised, name of software used:

• • DBase, SPSS.

How is data disseminated?

• • Through publication.

    •  

      • Coverage: Excludes non-manufacturing and those with less than 10 persons engaged.

Data collection period Nov-April every year

Frequency: One off /_/ Regular /x/

If regular, any periods for which estimates are missing?

• • No

Definitions, concepts:

Comparable with international standards? Yes /x/ No /_/

For time series data, are there any major changes in concepts through time, (give dates and details of any breaks in series.)

Are results inconsistent in definition, or any other way, with results from other sources?

Publication(s):

• • "Annual Survey of Manufacturing Establishments Nepal".

Copy provided? /_/ Most recent, 1994/95 (published July 1996)

Unpublished tables as well as more recent results are available on request?

Yes /_/ No /x/

Are computer files of "clean" unit data are available for more detailed analysis by Government agencies on request?

Yes /_/ No /x/

Results available at:

Provincial/regional level: /x/

Urban/rural separately: /x/

Analysis: How widely used and analysed are the results?

• • Not stated.

Contact person:

• • • • • • • • • • • • Mr. Probod Sagar Dhakal Telephone 245748

Annex C- Summary of available statistics (continued)

1. Title of data collection/compilation:Multi-Purpose Production Survey (Urban)
2. Reference period: 1989/90
3. Agency responsible: Central Bureau of Statistics

Summary of data content:

• • Output, costs, persons engaged in small-scale manufacturing and cottage industry, retail trade, non-mechanized transport, wages.

Methodology: Census /_/ Households /_/

Sample /x/ of Establishments /_/ Subwards /x/

Compiled from administrative records /_/

If sample, sample size: 150 subwards

Sampling method: (stratification, weighting method).

• • Stratification, systematic sample of households.

Copy of questionnaire(s) or proforma provided? /_/ No

Adjustment for non-response?

• • Not stated.

Processing and tabulation : Manual /_/ Computerised /x/

If computerised, name of software used:

• • DBase, SPSS

How is data disseminated?

• • Through publication

    •  

      • Coverage: Not stated. Small-scale manufacturing (household sector) and cottage industry