Shramsansar- a Labour Market Information System (LMIS), is an all-in-one platform, the first of its kind in the Koshi Province. Developed with the support of the Step Up project, the platform shares information about jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities while also facilitating increased interaction and information exchange among public and private labour market service providers, training providers, employers, and unemployed youths. The platform was launched and demonstrated in an event organised by the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) in Biratnagar on December 27. Chief Minister of Koshi Province Kedar Karki, who served as the chief guest at the event, emphasised his commitment to advancing the system, making it easier for individuals to find jobs that match the demands of the labour market.
Joined by special guests, the mayors of Biratnagar, Itahari, and Duhabi, the event also hosted key figures including the secretary of Office of Chief Minister and Council of Ministers (OCMCM), secretary of MoSD, and the Country Director of Swisscontact in Nepal.
Chief Minister Kedar Karki further expressed his dedication to making the system efficient, effective, and more user-friendly for job seekers.
The mayors of Biratnagar, Itahari, and Duhabi, along with other dignitaries, lauded the system's potential to transform the labour market in the province.
Sanjay Karki, the Country Director of Swisscontact in Nepal, emphasised that Shramsansar aims to make it easier for individuals to find jobs and for employers to find the right candidates by using digital tools.
Krishna Prasad Pokharel, Under Secretary of MoSD, emphasised the importance of service providers registering on the portal.
The launch event marked the integration of the LMIS- Shramsansar into MoSD aligning with the constitutional vision of Nepal. Moving forward, MoSD will take ownership and operation of the system to fulfill the constitutional mandate, with the system’s development supported by the Step Up project. In the long run, Shramsansar aims to help understand the job market and act as a platform to keep track of employment and labour policies.
Why Shramsansar?
Despite the substantial demand for skilled workers in various sectors within the Biratnagar-Itahari economic corridor, municipalities, Employment Support Service Providers (ESSPs), Training Service Providers (TSPs), and unemployed youths in the region are unaware of employment and training opportunities. According to Nepal Labour Force Survey 2017/18, out of 3.6 million individuals in the working-age category in Koshi Province, 136 thousand were unemployed. The underlying issue was the absence of a labour market information system to identify, record, and disseminate information about labour supply and demand. In response to these findings, Step Up supported the development of an LMIS that provides information on employment and entrepreneurial opportunities while also facilitating increased interaction and labour market information exchange among public and private labour market service providers, training providers, employers, and unemployed youths.
The platform stands out with its user-friendly features, allowing free registration and application processes. It goes beyond just job connections, offering valuable resources for those interested in self-employment and entrepreneurship. Job seekers can equally benefit from up-to-date information on job openings and training programs. Additionally, the platform facilitates connections with employment service providers for services like career counseling, profiling, and job matching. One of the key advantages is the easy access to comprehensive labour market information, including relevant laws and regulations. This platform was launched and demonstrated at the event and attendees were shown how to navigate both the web portal and mobile application.
With 3500 jobseekers already registered in the system, the ownership of MoSD is envisioned to expand its reach further in the Koshi Province.
To learn more about Shramsansar, watch a video here: