Nepal
3.3 Nepal Manual Labor
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The Nepal Labor Act 2074 (2017) provides for the rights, interest, facilities and safety of workers and employees in Nepal. The work week in Nepal consists of 6 workdays and 1 weekly holiday (Saturday). 

Minimum wage standardisation committees at district level fix the minimum labour rates of handling goods and services for the respective districts in the month of July for each Nepali fiscal year. Wage standardisation by the committee sets local wage rates for manual labour, local transportation, engineering costs and construction material costs. Often general labour and transportation market rates in use are found to be higher than the minimum market rates defined by the Federal Government, Provincial Government and district committees.

In 2018, Nepal, a tripartite consultation decided to increase its minimum wage to NPR 13,450 a month (table below), a 39% increase since last revision and since 2005 the purchasing capacity of wage workers has doubled.

Unskilled workers from the bordering Indian states fill the labour supply gaps in Nepal created by the increasing migration of the Nepali workforce. Contract labourers from India find seasonal employment during the planting and harvesting seasons in Nepal; several infrastructure projects such as hydropower and road constructions often employ Indian labourers.

The Government of Nepal, Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security prescribed the minimum remuneration/wage of the worker/employees under Section 106 of the Labor Act, 2017 (2074), separated in (a) “Minimum Wage Other than Tea Estate“ and (b) “Minimum Wage Tea Estate “, which has come into effect on August 16, 2018. 

Reference: Nepal Department of Labour & Occupational Safety

Minimum Wage

Minimum renumeration/ Wage 

Basic renumeration 
(NPR / USD) 

Dearness Allowances 

(NPR / USD) 

Total 

(NPR / USD) 

Monthly 

8455 / 75.48 

4995 / 44.59 

13450 / 120.07 

Daily 

325 / 2.90 

162 / 1.45 

517 / 4.62 

Hourly 

43 / 0.38 

26 / 0.23 

69 / 0.62 

 

Labour Rate(s) Overview 


Cost (Local Currency NPR / USD per day) 

Since each district fixes its own rate, the range of rates are included here. 

Daily General Worker (Unskilled casual labor) 

520-600 / 4.64-5.36  

Rate as of 16 July 2019 to 15 July 2020 

Includes Porter, Guards, Length Worker, etc 

Daily General Worker (Semi-skilled labor) 

600–700 / 5.36-6.25 

Rate as of 16 July 2019 to 15 July 2020 

Carpenter, Mason, etc  

Skilled Worker 

890 / 7.95 

Rate as of 16 July 2019 to 15 July 2020 

As mandated by the Government of Nepal, each district has responsibility to set labor rate which is updated at the beginning of every fiscal year.


Links to Province 1 District Rate

Link to the district rate for Morang District

Link to the district rate for Bhojpur District

Link to the district rate for Dhankuta District

Link to the district rate for Khotang District

Link to the district rate for Taplejung District

Link to the district rate for Solukhumbu District

Link to the district rate for Udayapur District


Links to Province 2 District Rate

Link to the district rate for Dhanusha District

Link to the district rate for Mahottari District

Link to the district rate for Parsa District


Links to Bagmati Province District Rate

Link to the district rate for Rasuwa District

Link to the district rate for Nuwakot District

Link to the district rate for Bhaktapur District

Link to the district rate for Lalitpur District

Link to the district rate for Kavrepalanchok District

Link to the district rate for Makwanpur District

Link to the district rate for Sindhuli District

Links to Gandaki Province District Rate

Link to the district rate for Kaski District

Link to the district rate for Gorkha District

Link to the district rate for Manang District

Link to the district rate for Lamjung District

Link to the district rate for Parbat District

Link to the district rate for Syangja District

Links to Province 5 District Rate

Link to the district rate for Bardiya District

Link to the district rate for Gulmi District

Link to the district rate for Kapilvastu District

Link to the district rate for Pyuthan District

Link to the district rate for Rolpa District

Link to the district rate for Rupandehi District

Link to the district rate for Palpa District

Link to the district rate for Arghakhanchi District

Link to the district rate for Dang District


Links to the Karnali Province District Rate

Link to the district rate for Mugu District

Link to the district rate for Jumla District

Link to the district rate for Dailekh District

Link to the district rate for Surkhet District

Link to the district rate for Salyan District


Links to the Sudurpaschim Province District Rate

Link to the district rate for Achham District

Link to the district rate for Baitadi District

Link to the district rate for Bajura District

Link to the district rate for Dadeldhura District

Link to the district rate for Darchula District

Link to the district rate for Kailali District

Link to the district rate for Kanchanpur District


ILO Nepal Labor Market Update 


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