GLP-POWER
(October 2022- March 2023)

CONTEXT

The Context of informal workers in Nepal,The workers are not entitled to social security benefits such as provident fund, gratuity fund, pension etc. These workers cannot form trade unions and do not have strong bargaining power. Their rights are not protected by labour law of Neapl so they are vulnerable to uncertainties of the market. They are facing the problem s are Long working hours, low pay & difficult working conditions. no job security and low job satisfaction. Inadequate social security regulation. Difficulty in exercising rights. The Major problem of Informal workers are obliged to take loan at high interest rate from the rich of the villages, live under the loan throughout their lives, forced to work for unequal wages and low wages, work without wage for small errands when they have lent money from the rich, labor exploitation, deprived from full freedom when working as a Laguna. lack respectful behavior, lack proper space for residence because of landlessness, lack access to local resources and participation in the decision-making processes (lack information about the programs of the local agencies including other service providers), lack mortgage-free credit from the Government of Nepal and the financial institutions authorized by the Government of Nepal, lack ownership over land, and devoid of pro-poor plan of local the Government. This project will help them to mitigate some problem in future. Recently the IWS gained the information about the provision and rules regulations of the Nepal government in faver of IWs and organized for the enjoy their rights without any discrimination through this project.

PROGRESS TOWARDS RESULTS

During this reportig priod, The RDF team mobilize for the identification of IWS in four districts of Madhes province namely Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha and Mahottari, All total 900 Agriculture sector IWs entry with KOBO and 180 IWs downloaded with connect App among the identified 1500 IWs. RDF has selected 15 Mentors from the field ares through the mobilization of project team and develop the capacity of Mentors to achieve the result based on objective. The RDF also Identified 12 organizations as a Pro- Bono service in the Province through the meetings and intractions with concerning agencies. The RDF organized 15 informal orentation/training sessions and 15 Small groups' orientation sessions to develop the capacity of IWs in four districts of the province in coolaboration and coordination with local CBOs and local communities' members. Through their connection to the CONNECT app, IWs are gaining knowledge about legal provisions, local support structures, occupational health and safety, and other relevant issues. This access to resources and information has helped IWs to become better organized and to increase their bargaining capacity. However, as of yet, no attempts at bargaining have been observed. The project provided a series of trainings which were actively participated in by informal workers. These trainings significantly increased their level of awareness and empowered them. However, due to the low employment opportunities and job insecurity in the country, informal workers have not been able to negotiate with employers.

SUMMARY OF COMPLETED ACTIVITIES

The RDF staff team enhanced their capacity through the orientation to perform their duty and and mobilise to achieve the project objective. The menters also mobilize as supporting hands. RDF has assigned Mentors and IWs leaders to raise awareness about the CONNECT app and assist in its implementation. They have been providing support to the Coordinator team in conducting various project activities. The Mentors have played a vital role in reaching out to informal workers and helping them join groups, sub-groups, and enhancing their collective through various activities such as digital literacy training, connect app orientation, and leadership development training. They have also assisted in downloading and installing the Connect app on IWs' mobiles, creating membership IDs, and registering their IDs. They have taught IWs how to view, like, comment, and download posts and content available on the app, and have collected feedback from them. Despite their efforts, the interest of Mentors in the project has declined due to the lack of incentives received so far. Recently the GLP project covered four districts among the eight district of Madhes Province. Selected 15 menters and 12 organizations as a Pro- Bono service through the meetings and intractions with concerning agencies. Organized and orentated to 15 informal and 15 Small groups' of IWs to enhanced their cpapcity to bargening power and decent work along with government ruls and regulations. Women IWs, Marginalised and excluded group (100 words) More than 65 persent women Informal workers( FIWs) depends on low wages in agriculture sector and they belongs to Illiterate & Pro poor community family.So they do not have a mobile phone.They are suffering from miserable condition with several problems.It is hard to join their hands to mouth. No mobile network accses in most of the target area. They are facing so many problems in the village as like diffrent types of VAW including economically, socialy and culturaly issues. Due to proverty FIWs are demanding to attrective allawnce and food expenses to mobilize the women Informal workers. Design and initiation of platform Within the reporting priod (Jan2023- March 2023) the RDF has conducted capacity building program to the grassroot workers IWs in four district of Madhes province in close coordination with concerning stakeholders.. Within the reporting priod RDF team conducted intraction meetings with 1500 Informal marginalised Workers about the information and benifit of CONNECT App plateform including enhance the bargaining power. The Informal marginalised Workers want to connect with the App but most of the workers have no smart mobile phone. In this reporting priod all total 180 IWs have downloaded CONNECT App and 900 IWs entry in KOBO. The major problem is the App is not running after download and no storage space in the IWs mobile storage. They do not want to delete other matter from his mobile but we are convined them to download and the benifit about the App. Organized.10 Training sessions