Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC), with support from ILO, organized three days Leadership Development Training to the Union's Leaders on Promoting Safety and Health at Work in Kathmandu from 18 - 20 September 2024. The participants in the training were union leaders from Kathmandu, Koshi Province, District leadership from the Koshi Province and union leaders from Tea and Cardamom enterprises.

The training program focused on several key areas essential for empowering workers and enhancing workplace safety and rights. First, participants gained a thorough understanding of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) principles alongside the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FPRW). This foundational knowledge is crucial for promoting safe working conditions and ensuring that all workers are aware of their rights.

A significant emphasis was placed on unionization and the vital roles that leaders play within workers' unions. Understanding leadership and its necessity for the development of effective unions is essential for fostering collective strength and representation. Participants learned about collective bargaining techniques and advocacy tools, which equip them to negotiate better terms and conditions for themselves and their peers.

The program also delved into the labour movement's history and its ongoing advocacy for workers' rights. By discussing various labour acts and specific OSH legislation, participants became familiar with the legal frameworks that protect workers. A discussion session focused on aligning workers' actions with national legislations and conventions highlighted how they can actively contribute to improving safety and health standards in their workplaces.

Workplace safety and WIND/WISE checklist was also discussed during the session. Gender considerations in OSH were also addressed, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity in safety measures. Finally, group work allowed participants to collaborate and prepare actionable plans that can be implemented within their unions and workplaces. Overall, the training equipped participants with essential knowledge and tools to advocate for themselves and their fellow workers effectively.

The training sessions covered the following:

• OSH and Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FPRW)
• Unionization and leaders’ roles
• Introduction to Leadership and its needs within the worker's union and its development process                                                                     
• Collective Bargaining and advocacy tools                   
• Labour movement and advocacy for workers’ rights    
• Labour acts and legislation and specific on OSH legislation  
• Discussion session - How worker's actions will be in line with the national legislations and conventions and can enable the safety and health at workplaces.
• Practices for the workplace improvement
• Workplace level improvement ideas 
• Gender and OSH
• Group work on preparation of action plan