Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC), with support from ILO, organized one day strategic meeting to advance the union leaders' understanding of forced labour issues on 11 September 2024 in Kathmandu. The meeting was attended by NTUC central leadership and union leaders from Sudurpascgchim province. The meeting enhanced leadership's skills to address issues related to forced labour and workers' rights. Additionally, the sessions held in the meeting provided crucial insights into the International Labour Organization’s Forced Labour Protocol (P29) among others. The sessions designed for the meeting included: 'Forced Labour Issues in Nepal', "Background, Relevance and Ratification of ILO Forced Labour Protocol (P29), 'Draft of Integrated Forced Labour Bill' and 'Guideline for Rehabilitation of Former Bonded Labours (Kamaiya, Haliya and Harawa-Charawa)'.

NTUC President Mr. Yogendra Kumar Kunwar and ILO National Project Coordinator Mr. Ram Bahadur Charmakar spoke during the opening ceremony of the program. NTUC President said that there are still forced labour in different forms. The relevant legislations are yet to be endorsed by the parliament and we all need to work together in this issue. ILO NPC Ram Charmakar said that both ILO and NTUC has the objective of promoting decent work and have been working together towards this end.

During the presentation, the participants raised queries such as the specific challenges in implementing the government decisions in these issues, monitoring and enforcing compliance, specific support services (e.g., financial aid, vocational training) to be provided and current status on the ratification of ILO protocol 29 among others.