THE heads of five commissions on tasked with making recommendations for reforms in labour rights, women鈥檚 affairs, public health, local government and the media, set up on November 18, 2024, on August 3 urged the chief adviser to the interim government to take steps for the implementation of the recommendations of the commission and secure commitment from the political parties so that the next elected government would continue implementing the recommendations. The chiefs of the five commissions, in a letter to the chief adviser, say that their recommendations are no less integral to building a democratic, inclusive and accountable future. While acknowledging the time constraints of the interim arrangement, they have put out a call for the government to act without further delay. They have urged that the government should identify the recommendations that can be implemented immediately and ensure that all recommendations, including the ones that need long-term implementation, are endorsed to safeguard their continuation. The concern is well founded. Any exclusion of the recommendations could give political parties an excuse to sidestep important social and institutional reforms. Such a proposition may also foster public disillusionment if critical issues such as gender parity, health rights, worker protection, decentralised governance and press freedom are are not acted on.
The exclusionary focus of the consensus-building process has already undermined the promise of a broad-based reform transition. Since March 20, the national consensus commission had held dialogues on the recommendations of the six commissions, set up October 3, 2024 on electoral reforms, the judiciary, police administrative reforms, public administration, constitutional reforms and anti-corruption measures until July 31 this year. The five commissions, which submitted their reports in February鈥揗ay remain sidelined. This reflects an unbalanced approach that leverages a political consensus over a broader social inclusion. The commission on women鈥檚 affairs has recommended equal inheritance rights, a uniform family code and a permanent commission for women鈥檚 affairs. The commission on the media has proposed an independent oversight body, legal protection for journalists and a minimum wage for entry-level media workers. The commission on labour issues has called for a permanent wage commission and three-year wage revision. The commission on local government affairs has proposed replacing five outdated laws with two new laws to enable a strong decentralisation. The commission on public health has recommended constitutional recognition of primary health care as a right.
While some reforms may need political negotiations, others may not. But the unwillingness of the government to take the issue seriously is unacceptable. The government should, therefore, act on the recommendations of the five commissions in earnest.
