Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU1564
2006-06-16 12:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

GOVERNMENT HOLDS DONOR MEETING ON CHILD LABOR,

Tags:  ELAB PREL PGOV EAID ECON KOCI NP 
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VZCZCXYZ0021
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKT #1564/01 1671224
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 161224Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1903
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 4482
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 4734
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 9847
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 2720
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 4135
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA PRIORITY 1700
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 9878
UNCLAS KATHMANDU 001564 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/INS
DEPT PASS TO DOL (VROZENBERGS)
MANILA FOR (PSPELTZ)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PREL PGOV EAID ECON KOCI NP
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT HOLDS DONOR MEETING ON CHILD LABOR,
WORRIED ABOUT LACK OF SUPPORT

REF: KATHMANDU 817

SUMMARY
-------

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 001564

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/INS
DEPT PASS TO DOL (VROZENBERGS)
MANILA FOR (PSPELTZ)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PREL PGOV EAID ECON KOCI NP
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT HOLDS DONOR MEETING ON CHILD LABOR,
WORRIED ABOUT LACK OF SUPPORT

REF: KATHMANDU 817

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (SBU) In a June 1 meeting, the Government of Nepal's (GON)
Minister of Labor and Transport Management (MOLTM) Ramesh
Lekhak and MOLTM Secretary Deependra Bickram Thapa requested
donor and NGO support for the GON's Master Plan on Child
Labor that established a goal of eliminating all child labor
in Nepal by 2014. Secretary Thapa suggested the GON and
donors form a "donor consortium" to coordinate efforts. He
announced that the GON planned to strengthen its high-level
ministerial committee to mainstream the issue of child labor,
and requested donor assistance to develop an information
management system for better program monitoring.
Participating NGOs expressed their doubts about the
feasibility of eliminating all forms of child labor in Nepal
by 2014; instead the group challenged the GON to address the
sustainability of child labor projects. Thapa acknowledged
the group's concerns and pledged better government
cooperation. End Summary.

LABOR SECRETARY HIGHLIGHTS GON EFFORTS TO COMBAT CHILD LABOR,
REQUESTS DONOR SUPPORT
-------------- --------------


2. (SBU) During a June 1 donor meeting, in which the U.S. was
the only donor present but INGO and NGOs were invited,
Minister Lekhak requested donor support to accomplish GON
goals to combat child labor. Secretary Thapa gave a
presentation on "Creating Synergy Among Partners for
Effective and Efficient Implementation of the National Master
Plan on Child Labor." Nepal's Master Plan on Child Labor,
which was revised in 2004, aims to eliminate the worst forms
of child labor by 2009 and all forms of child labor by 2014.
Thapa requested that the GON and donor representatives create
a "donor consortium" to mobilize funds and coordinate their
use. He announced that the GON planned to strengthen its
high-level inter-ministerial committee to mainstream the
issue of child labor. Secretary Thapa stressed that

commitment from all sectors of society, not just the GON, was
needed to eliminate child labor. The NGOs and INGOs at the
session responded to the Secretary's presentation by
challenging the contention that Nepal could realistically
eliminate all forms of child labor by 2014.


3. (SBU) The MOLTM Secretary said that the GON needed to
develop a monitoring and evaluation system, and asked donors
to provide information to assist the GON to develop an
information management system. He requested continued
funding for the Timebound Program, scheduled to finish in
August 2006. The goal of the Timebound Program is to reduce
the number of children engaged in seven of the worst forms of
child labor in 22 districts of Nepal. The Timebound Program
focuses on influencing GON policy, public awareness
activities, and economic empowerment initiatives. Thapa
stressed that the Timebound Program was important to the
success of Nepal's Master Plan, and distributed a paper
titled "Continuation of Good Practices of the Timebound
Program and Addressing Future Gaps" that concluded that a
three-year Phase II of the Timebound Program should continue
to target elimination of seven of the worst forms of child
labor and address issues of child soldiers at a cost of USD
1.9 million.


4. (SBU) Pracha Vasuprasat, Acting Director of the
International Labor Organization's International Program on
the Elimination of Child Labor (ILO-IPEC) in Nepal,
subsequently explained to Emboff that no funding had been
pledged by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) or any other
donor for Timebound Phase II. Anja Elisabeth Hem, Associate
Expert for ILO-IPEC, told us that ILO-IPEC was planning to
meet formally with all donors to ascertain whether there was
any interest in supporting Timebound Phase II. Hem opined
that the June 1 meeting had been called in part due to GON
concern over Timebound Phase II funding, and also as an
opportunity for the new GON to demonstrate its commitment to
eliminate the worst forms of child labor.

SUSTAINABILITY AN ISSUE
--------------


5. (SBU) During the meeting, a USAID colleague stressed that
a major donor concern was the sustainability of child labor
projects. She noted that the GON needed better coordination
to avoid duplication of efforts and waste of resources.
Secretary Thapa acknowledged that the goals of the Master

SIPDIS
Plan were ambitious and that was why he was seeking better
cooperation and participation from donors and stakeholders.
He also acknowledged that there had been gaps in the past
between formulation of goals and implementation, and that GON
committees did not always work properly. Thapa announced
that the GON was planning to allocate funds in the upcoming
annual budget for innovations that have worked well, though
not a large amount, and asked for donor suggestions.

DOL RECOGNIZED ON CHILD LABOR DAY
--------------


6. (SBU) On Child Labor Day, June 12, Emboff accepted a
certificate of appreciation on behalf of DOL, awarded by
ILO-Nepal for DOL's outstanding service to the cause of
elimination of the worst forms of child labor in Nepal.
Minister Lekhak conveyed the GON's commitment to provide
necessary assistance to eradicate child labor.

COMMENT
--------------


7. (SBU) Most NGOs and INGOs complain that the lack of
engagement from previous governments contributed to the lack
of success of Phase I of the Timebound Program. Although the
new government seeks assistance to address the important
problem of child labor, donors appear mired in the past and
unwilling to respond to the government. The USG will
continue to support Nepal in its effort to address child
labor by funding two major programs. One, the Brighter
Futures Program Phase II, will create public awareness of the
importance of education and provide access to non-formal
education for children removed from or at risk of working in
one of the worst forms of child labor. Two, the Sustainable
Elimination of Bonded Labor Program Phase II, will focus on
withdrawing bonded child laborers and reintegrating them into
their communities, as well as conduct awareness activities to
prevent at-risk children from becoming bonded laborers.
SCHWARTZ