Women in Entertainment Sectors Face Rights Violations

Life of women working in entertainment sectors:
Right to decent work and living wage
FPAR
Report, 2012–2013
Researcher: Women Forum for Women in Nepal (WOFOWON)
Supported by: Asia Pacific Forum on Women Law and Development
(APWLD)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We want to heartly thank women labors working in entertainment sectors for their most
important contribution to the research by accepting the research and enriching it with their
direct, active participation. They have shown amazing courage by coming forward to identify
and fight for their rights, recognition and to raise voice to make their issues heard, shared their
life experiences and allowed to document them to be tools for the movement of women
worker’s rights and for being messengers of change. We would also like to thank all the persons
who have given us their time and shared their thoughts, experience in interviews.
We much grateful and would like to thank Dr. Renu Rajbhandari for her support, suggestions
and encouragement during the research. We truly want to thank the whole team of WOREC for
their support and guidance in many ways specially Ms. Sanjita Timsina for her support since
before starting the research, trainings and her crucial facilitation for development FPAR with
women labors. We also express our our deep thanks to Ms. Prabina Tandukar for her support
during the process of data analysis. We also want to thank Ms. Nirmita Acharya for her
affiliation with the research as researcher at its first phase.
We would like to thank Mr. Dal Bahadur Dhami for providing his valuable legal consultation
during the analysis as well as processes of research.
We also want to specially thank Sunita Ale Magar, Asha Magar, Sashi Dhamala, Swostika Lama,
Rasila Thokar (Shakti Samuha), Urmila Chaudhary (Pragatisil Mahila Sangh) and Sangeeta Thapa
for playing important roles to fill up survey forms by reaching out to women labors at their
work places as local researchers.
We would like to thank all the staffs and members of WOFOWON (Kabita Rana Magar, Radha
Ale Magar, Maya Chaudhary) and Sabitri Guragain and Maya Chaudhary (Health person at
Chhahari Women’s Health Counseling Centre) and all the board members specially Asmita
Magar and Sunita Rai for their continuous support during field visits, out reach programs,
documentation of life stories, processing of survey and interviewing processes. We also want to
express our deepest gratitude to volunteer and interns of WOFOWON Yukta Bajracharya,
Subekshya and Bashana for their generous help in the process of translation of case studies.

ACRONYMS
APWLD – Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development
CEDAW – Convention to eliminate all forms of Discrimination against Women
CDO – Chief District Officer
FPAR – Feminist Participatory Action Research
ILO – International Labor Organization
MOWCS – Ministry of Women, Children and Social Development
NHRC – National Human Right Commission
NWC – National Women Commission
UDHR – Universal Declaration of Human Right
WOFOWON – Women Forum for Women in Nepal
WOREC – Women Rehabilitation Centre
Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.................................................................................................................................2
ACRONYMS ...................................................................................................................................................3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY..................................................................................................................................4
CHAPTER I – BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH FRAMEWORK.........................................................................7
BACKGROUND / INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................7
OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH...............................................................................................................11
SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH: ......................................................................................................................12
METHODOLOGIES ...................................................................................................................................12
DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES ............................................................................................................17

TIME OF THE RESEARCH..........................................................................................................................23
RESEARCH AREAS....................................................................................................................................24
DEFINITION OF TERMS............................................................................................................................24
CHAPTER II – FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS ......................................................................................................26
DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK PLACES IN RELATION TO WORK DONE BY WOMEN WORKERS................31
PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES OF WOMEN WORKERS...........................................................................34
IMPACTS OF THESE HUMAN RIGHT VIOLATION TO WOMEN WORKERS ...............................................48
WOMEN INITIATIVES TO FIGHT FOR RIGHTS..........................................................................................50
POSITIVE INFLUENCE IN SOME GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.............................................................54
CHAPTER III - CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS.............................................................................55
CHAPTER IV – RESEARCHER’S REFLECTIVITY...............................................................................................60
ATTACHMENTS / ANNEX.............................................................................................................................64
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This research report has tried to reflect the condition of women labors working in entertainment sectors
(focusing of women labors in dancer bars, duet restaurants, cabin restaurants, massage parlors and
open restaurants) in three districts and major city areas: Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur. Women
working in entertainment sector are pursuing their professions and sustaining their livelihood by
working in various positions like, waitress, dancer, singer, hostess, cook, bar person, captain, Guest
Relation Officer (GRO), massager, etc. However, their work is not valued and recognized as labor and
decent labor by the society and state. There have been researches before this which have mainly
focused in the issues of vulnerability of women workers to sexual violence and exploitation; however
the issues of women labors right to decent labor and living wages in this sector have not been
prioritized, explored or researched about from the perspectives of women workers themselves.
A Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR) was conducted by WOFOWON from August 2012 to
September 2013 in support of Asia Pacific Forum on Women Law and Development (APWLD) on “life of
women working in entertainment sectors”, focusing on their right to decent work and living wage and to
document the situation of HR Violation of women workers, the condition of insurance of their rights.
The research was also done with a motive of developing capacity, knowledge and skills of both the
community of women workers as well as researchers’ in understanding Human rights, labor rights and
documentation of violation of women’s rights. Three different trainings were provided to the
researchers from APWLD on HR violation documentation, FPAR Research Methodology and qualitative
data analysis process. Women working in entertainment sector were continuously directly involved in
the research processes. We have done moreover a qualitative research.

During the research, life stories of 50 women working in the sector and also those who have worked in
the sector in past were documented. Along with the case studies, a survey was done with 250 women
workers focusing on their situation at work places, the behavior of owners, costumers, coworkers,
police, media and society towards them. We have also taken interviews with various governmental and
non-governmental stakeholders, business owners in the sector during the research.
While analyzing the qualitative data collected from the research, women are working in entertainment
sector for livelihood. In some conditions, they are working due to compulsion after not getting any other
work and in some condition women have selected this sector as their sector of employment on their
own will. The number of women who are internally migrated from various rural places of Nepal to city
areas like Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur and working in the sector is large. Given by rights declared
by the constitution of Nepal 2063, the UNDHR 1947 ratified by Nepal government and CEDAW 1979, ILO
convention, women have all the rights to work in the sector and should be recipient of social security
from the state. However, they are forced to work in environment vulnerable to various forms of
physical, mental, sexual, economic violation. They are marginalized both from the state and the society.
Women working in the sector are doubly marginalized. They have to face various physical, mental,
sexual, economic violence and exploitation and labor exploitation from the owners, costumers,
coworkers, police, their own families and the society. Monthly salary is not given in many places and
where monthly salary is given; there is compulsion to work in minimum wage and salary. As the vision of
society towards them is negative, they are not being able to express about their work openly, hard to
get room rent even if they say, situation of being displaced from home, society.
There is no guarantee of social security of women working in the sector, especially in night time work.
Nepal government has given the businesses in this sector to be legally registered and is collecting tax
form there. But it has not provided the value of labor of women. So women are compelled to work in
risky environment. This has made it more difficult to change the negative thinking of society towards
women working in this sector. The monitoring of government institutions is very weak and due to this,
the directive has not yet been effectively implemented.
However, the sectors have offered employment to women workers. Women working in this sector have
understood their rights and have been united to raise their voice by being united with free trade union.
By affiliation in Nepal Independent Hotel, Casino labor union by establishing two area committees. This
research has also helped in creating favorable environment for the establishment of the area
committees. Along with this, women workers have been united and working to change the negative
thinking in the society through cultural campaign.
To ensure the human right, right to decent work and living wage as well as social cultural economic
rights of women working in the entertainment sectors, the government of Nepal (especially Law
ministry, women, children and social welfare ministry, labor and employment ministry etc.) should be
very responsible. As the issue is related to many government institutions, these ministries should work
in coordination. It seems very important that the government should play important role by providing
recognition and value of labor of women in this sector by including in labor act, implementing the
directive, formulating separate law, it’s effective implementation, giving direction to police as well in the
same manner and increasing in awareness. For this, the organizations and networks working for the
rights of women in this sector, business workers, local institutions, and effective institutions like NWC,
NHRC should take forward wide advocacy and pressure programs with active coordination and co-work
within the institutions.

CHAPTER I – BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH FRAMEWORK
BACKGROUND / INTRODUCTION
NATIONAL SOCIO-POLICICAL CONTEXT
50.40 % of total population of Nepal is comprised of women1
, however women are denied of access and
rights in every sector. In the male dominated society, women’s mobility, right to body, right to labor are
restricted there is outside control over women’s body, rights so society has not given recognition, state
has not given value and there is politicization of women’s human right. Due to the effect of this, women
don’t have rights in any sector, so women working in entertainment sector are more marginalized.
Unless women can come forward and achieve their goals, how will it be inclusive Nepal. Issue of
inclusion is being highlighted. But Women workers are doubly, triply marginalized. Nepal is a developing
nation. It has been going through a critical phase of transition since half a decade. After a decade long
Maoist armed revolution from 1966 to 2006 A.D, given by war cease fire and people’s unified
movement, a century long monarchial regime swinging between being constitutional and dictatorial rule
was overthrown and Nepal was declared as Republican state in 2008.
The groups of people who had been marginalized for a long time in history and still are in practice, have
started to seek for and establish their identities denied in the past. Political parties have been discussing
and debating about issues of national transformations like implementation of federalism, discussing
upon various models of federalism to break down centralization. As the marginalized and oppressed
groups are raising voice for their identity and rights, there have been positive waves of changes in recent
years. However, given by the political transformation, and the long phase of transition, political situation
of Nepal is very instable. There is no complete government, the new constitution, demanded by the
people’s movement is yet to be formed. There is no certainty about political status quo or changes.
Nepal is listed as one of poor states in the world with least developed infrastructures and with very high
(46%) unemployment rate, 55% of the population is living below the poverty line (according to the
World Bank statement).2
Due to the weak economic conditions of the country, there is very inadequate
access of education, health, employment and other essential needs to people. Economically, Nepal is
entering into a kind of mixed economy from being an agriculture dependent state. However the society
is still feudalistic in nature. The political situation of the country has fuelled the spread of impunity and
1
According to a World Bank Report published in 2012, http://data.worldbank.org/country/nepal
2
http://data.worldbank.org/country/nepal

disorder in the society in direct and indirect ways. There hasn’t been much of industrial development in
Nepal.
Socially, Nepalese society is very much dominated by patriarchal thoughts and behaviors, caste system
and religious fundamentalism to much an extent. The condition of women in Nepal is even worse. Heavy
gender based discrimination, subjugation and marginalization have imposed status to women as second
class citizens. Despite the provision for equality, freedom and the right to live without discrimination,
discrimination against women prevails. Patriarchy is deeply rooted in our society which is demonstrated
through discriminatory and confining values, thinking attitudes and such behaviors for women. Being
51% part of the total population, women rarely get to participate in decision making processes from
personal level to family, societal and state level.
According to UNDP Report, 2011,3
gender inequality index in Nepal is 0.665 which is very high.
Deprivation of women from access to education, property, decision rights, right to their own body, right
to their reproductive health, right to labor has badly chained Nepalese women. Each day, cases of
violence against women like physical, mental and sexual assaults and massive violation of their human
rights are being reported and many remain silenced within households, streets, families, societies,
workplaces. In this context,there is no favorable environment for social, economic, political
development for women. Women rarely get to go out of household chores and get involved in economic
activities. The continuous tiring house hold and care taking work of women is not valued andeven
economic work done by women is dimmed down compared to the same work done by men and the
society drags down women’s attempt of involving in economic activities, exercising their right to work
by various ways. However, the struggle for women’s right is continuous in Nepal.
WOMEN WORKING IN ENTERTAINMENT SECTORS
Women working in entertainment sectors (open restaurant, cabin restaurant, dance bar, duet
restaurant and massage parlor)4
are mostly involved in service and profit oriented jobs in such business
institutions. Few local residents and mostly women from various parts of Nepal who have migrated to
cities like Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur and are working in this sector. According to the data publish
of Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare in 2008 there are tentatively about 50,000 women
3
http://www.undp.org/content/nepal/en/home/countryinfo/

working in entertainment sector in Kathmandu Valley. The statistics must have varied but there has not
been proper study about statistics of women workers in this sector. According to the nature of work
place, they work as waitress, hostess, dancer, singer, cook, captain, bar person, masseuse, guest relation
officer (GRO), etc. Many women are seeking for employment in this sector but in the society that
hesitate in acceptance of the idea of women working for economic independence by walking out of
house hold boundaries, the work of women in this sector is very much stigmatized. The women working
in this sector defy the definitions of what “a good woman” should be, as stated in the dictionary of
patriarchy.
The work of women in this sector is overlooked, underestimated and the work is not seen as dignified
work. It is due to the conservative norms of the society reflected in its attitude, behavior to women
workers in this sector. It is also reflected in the state’s reluctance in providing recognition of their work
as decent labor and its ignorance in addressing the issues and problems of women working in this
sector. Due to this, there is a lot of violation of human rights of women workers.
Women work in this sector for various reasons; basically it is for sustenance of livelihood. Many women
who are deprived of education, property, necessary documents like citizenship, suffered from domestic
violence for being born as a woman, for giving birth to a woman, for various such reasons, who are
displaced in the context of civil wars from their villages work in this sector as they don’t have much
education or skills to get other jobs and some work to earn their pocket money, some work to manage
money for their studies, some are dancers and singers they want to earn their living by presenting their
talents, some have grown up her children, admitted them in nice schools with the help of this work. As
the work doesn’t require much of educational background, experience or other documents, it is easy to
get and has been very helpful for women to earn their living.
Women working in this sector are facing various problems and challenges. Due to non recognition from
the state, the workplaces are not regulated and are run according to whatever the wish of the owner.
Women are compelled to work with challenges of minimum pay and facing various forms of violence,
exploitation from the owners, costumers, the police and the society.

LAWS, POLICIES AND PROGRAMS ADDRESSING ISSUES OF WOMEN WORKING IN
ENTERTAINMENT SECTORS
The absence of proper law to address this sector is one of the main problems in this sector, worsening
the condition of women workers. Nepal has not included the work of women in this sector under labor
act and the state has not given the recognition, identification and value of the work here as decent
work. Due to which the sector lacks proper legal monitoring, inspection and women have to face
problems of labor exploitation, minimum wage and various forms of violence at the workplaces. There is
no punishment allocated for violators of women’s rights in this sector. It makes it difficult to pressurize
the owners to provide appointment letters, proper wage, other facilities and to maintain proper rules
and regulations in this sector. Working environment. Forced to drink, smoke This also directly weakens
the grounds of controlling and ending violence against women in this sector.
There are various international policies and treaties signed and ratified by the government of Nepal to
ensure protection of women’s right against discrimination, violence and to protect labor rights of every
citizen under which the state should be obliged to formulate proper law to regulate the operation of the
sector and to ensure all rights of women workers. Nepal has ratified the ILO Convention, International
Convention on Elimination of All Kinds Of Violence Against Women (CEDAW) in 1991, signed the
Optional protocol to the CEDAW in 2001, International Declaration of Human Rights. However, women
workers have to be deprived from acquiring beneficiaries like fixed wages, work contract, identity cards,
appointment letters, etc. Concerning about the labor rights in the formal sectors, some of the rights of
labor is safe and secure but the condition is very unjust and critical for women working in entertainment
sector.
More, in current unstable situation of Nepal, most of the national and international laws and policies are
not being valued or checked for implementation. The implementation process of the policies and biding
by the treaties remain very week, and the efforts that are made by various government institutions have
marginalized the issues of women working in this sector..
In 2009, the Supreme Court of Nepal has promulgated a directive5
in relation to giving protection to
women and girls working in entertainment sectors against economical and sexual exploitation in work
place. This directive promotes women’s right against sexual violence to some extent. It has clearly stated
5
Verdict and procedural guidelines issued by the supreme court for the prevention of sexual harassment against
working women at workplaces like dance restaurants, dance bars, etc (2008)

that any forms of verbal to physical sexual violence from owners or customers should not be done at the
work places. Also states women workers should not be forced to do any sort of work against their will. It
has the provision that these things should be informed the costumers as well. It has ordered Nepal
government to formulate a proper law for the sector. However, the directive is not implemented at
almost every work place. There is a monitoring committee to monitor and inspect its effective
implementation but the committee in the leadership of Central District officer which is also very much
passive. And new effective law has not yet been formulated.
However, there are laws that address issues of labors in other sector, recognized as formal, decent
employment sector by the government. The ministry of labor and employment has recently issued a
new law in 2013 that propagated a minimum salary of 8,000 rupees per month for 8 hours work days.
But it has not been practically implemented at the sector due to overlook of owners regarding this rule
and the difficulty in pressurizing the implementation of the rule as the state has not recognized the
sector as sector of decent employment.
Right to trade union…the workplaces with more than 10 staffs, the staffs are rightful to establish a free
trade union. *footnote After the 27 years long struggle of trade unions, the government has also
established the compulsory implementation of 10% service charge rule; under which the customers at
restaurants pay 10% additional charge as service charge and 52% of thus collected amount should be
distributed equally among staffs and the rest 42% can be utilized by the management, owner for
furniture or utensil repairmen or for upgrading of the work place. This policy has been very rarely
implemented at work places in entertainment sector or at the most places where service charge is
charged, the owners themselves take all the money.
Thus the rights of women working in this sector remain unguarded in the absence of proper national
law.
OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH
GENERAL OBJECTIVE
The FPAR was carried out with general objective of exploring, documenting, reflecting, analyzing and
highlighting working condition and situation of women working in entertainment sector, the status of
their human rights violation and their right to decent work by their direct participation and thus

collecting evidences for advocacy in future to ensure the rights of women working in entertainment
sectors.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
The specific objectives of the research are:
i. Creation of a platform to share stories of women workers, facilitating to realize their rights and raise
their voice by trying to break the culture of silence.
ii. To identify the problems that marginalized women working in entertainment sectors are facing and
to find out the root causes behind them from feminist perspectives.
iii. To identify various forms of violence against women working the entertainment sector and to
document them, create stronger grounds to advocate and explore the solutions regarding these
issues from policy making level.
iv. To build up knowledge and skills along with empowerment of women and to increase unity among
women workers by strengthening grounds for collective action and building movement.
v. To raise an effective debate and pressurize, recommend to make government accountable and
responsible to address the issues of women working in the sector.
SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH:
The research was conducted among women working in entertainment sectors like dance bars, duet
restaurants, open restaurants, massage parlors and cabin restaurants in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and
Lalitpur district. It was mainly focused in the economic, social, cultural and legal aspects of the condition
of women working in entertainment sectors, the condition of violation of their human rights, to find out
how much the stakeholders were aware about the issue and also to trying to figure out the gaps
between policies, laws and their implementation.
METHODOLOGIES
FPAR
The research was conducted in the frame work of Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR)
FPAR basically focuses on the agendas related to right base justice for women. It is done in Feminist
background. The research seeks to find the reasons behind marginalization of women, injustice against
women, and point out gaps in laws, policies, and the gaps at implementation level. As feminism strongly
believes in rights of women and their equality in the society, the same was acutely considered in all the
processes and during analysis of data of the research.

According to Colleen Reid6
, “Feminist action research is a promising, though under-developed, research
approach for advancing women’s health and social justice agendas.” “Participatory research involves a
social action process that is biased in favor of dominated, exploited, poor or otherwise ignored women,
men and groups. Participatory researchers work “with” rather than “for” the researched, breaking down
the distinction between researchers and the researched while legitimizing the knowledge people are
capable of producing. Consequently, participatory researchers outline and utilize explicit processes to
facilitate ordinary people’s reflection and analysis of their reality”.7
This research has tried to incorporate inclusion, participation, individual and collective action, social
change and reflectivity of the researchers, which are also basic guiding principles of FPAR.
FPAR DEVELOPMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY
PRE-RESEARCH INDUCTION ACTIVITIES
The research was conducted in direct participation of women workers in every steps and processes of
the research since the beginning. The hypothesis of the research, it’s objectives, research areas and
processes and were firstly determined by discussion in the community of women workers as they are
the most knowledgeable and authentic about their own experiences and needs. Two interaction
programs were done among 32 women workers as pre-research induction activities prior to the
research to inform them about the research and to further develop the processes.
In the first interaction program, women workers were informed about WOFOWON, which is an
organization established and led by women workers and they were encouraged to share their thoughts
and experiences to build up what sort of research is necessary to address the issues in friendly
environment. After sharing that the research aims identify the problems, reflect the condition of women
workers and collect evidences of violation of human rights of women workers to push the government
and necessary stakeholders with strong advocacy, the participants congratulated WOFOWON for taking
the initiation to highlight the issues of women workers which have been neglected from long time.
When it was shared that the research is going to document ‘our stories’-stories of women workers,
immediately, a participant raised her hands and started to say that “can I tell my story, with whom I can
share, when, where”, at that moment her eyes was tearing and face was dark. It was very emotional.
Everyone shared that they have realized the research was ‘our’ research.
Group discussions were done to identify the main problems of women while working in this sector and
possible ways of solutions to the problem and the ways in which the research could be helpful in solving
the problems and presentations were given. From the discussion, it was traced out that the main
problems for women working in the entertainment sectors are:
6
PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute for Health Research and Education, Simon Fraser University and British
Columbia Center for Excellence in Women’s Health, Vancouver, BC, Canada
7
Advancing Women’s social justice Agendas: A Feminist Action Research Framework, Colleen Reid

1. Non-recognition of work
2. Lack of provision of job appointment letter
3. Lack of proper law and nearly null implementation of the directive from the supreme court of
Nepal against violence against women in entertainment sector.
4. No guarantee of wage, and labor exploitation, wage discrimination resulting in economic
problems
5. Violation of Human Rights, force work, forced sex work at the work place
6. Stigmatization of the work by the society depicted in the form of un-acceptance from family,
society and peer circle resulting in psychosocial victimization
7. Physical, mental and sexual threats, harassment and abuses in the work place.
8. Arrest from police just for the reason of that they work in entertainment sectors and sexual,
physical, mental harassment from the Police themselves.
9. Negative portrayal from the media
From the discussion, as women are involved in various categories of jobs and various work
places within the sector, it was determined that the research will be mainly focused cabin
restaurants, massage parlors, dance bars, duet restaurants and open restaurants and in
Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur districts.
The pre-induction activities were very helpful to build a sense of trust among women workers
and a sense of ownership towards the research. As the issues of social, economic and cultural
and labor rights of women were talked about during the interactions, they helped to build self-
confidence within women workers to identify their rights and to open up with their experiences
of violation of rights.
A second interaction was carried out among women workers and staffs of WOFOWON in which
two new tools: power mapping and critical pathway were introduced to women workers and
their utility during our research.
POWER MAPPING
Power mapping was done to figure out the stakeholders and related institutions which are
influential in addressing the issues of women workers in entertainment sectors, it was also
figured out which of the stakeholders at the time were positively, negatively or neutrally
influential to address the issues. And a critical pathway was drawn by discussion to trace out
step wise work that can be done through the research to ensure the rights of women workers.

From the power mapping, it was figured out that with the level of influence, some positively
influential institutions were: Some media, NWC, NHRC, NAWHRD, some human right NGOs,
INGOs, MOWCSW, Nepal Bar Association, civil society and trade unions.
Whereas, Home Ministry, Ministry of law and justice, Labor and Employment Ministry, police
and army and some media were recognized as the institutions playing negatively influential
roles. It was also identified that the society has not played positively role, people in the society
are mostly negative or neutral and non-influential.
The power mapping helped generate a broad idea about which institution should be made
positive, and which institutions can be approached for support to address the issues. It was
revisited after the completion of research activities to look for changes.
CRITICAL PATHWAY
Figure 1: Power Mapping

Following critical path way was drawn to create a path for what can be done with the research
and after the research to enhance, ensure rights of women working in entertainment sector.
Two level, one till research, one after the research. The research will give input to establish the
right of women workers.
The research also attempted in continuous development of feminist understanding of the researcher/s
as well as women in the community through ‘ordinary talking’ by simplification of feminism in our daily
lives. It also tried to incorporate factors like convincing, coordination, cooperation and collaboration
with other organizations and networks working in the same sector, owners of the businesses in the
sector and various stakeholders at various levels of research.
Due to the patriarchal social structure of Nepal and similarities of workplace experiences despite the
fact that a woman’s experience and feelings are completely personal and unique to every individual, the
research has assumed that experiences and problems women have to face have a lot of commonality in
its root, being different at manifestation.
THE FPAR RESEARCH TEAM

Ms Sirjana Pun, founding chair person and program coordinator of WOFOWON played the role
of mentor by guiding the researcher, helping her understand the issues of the community and
to build up good rapport with the community and guided in every process of research. The
young researcher and mentor were given trainings by APWLD at various stages of the research
to increase the understanding of human rights, human rights violation and necessity of the
research, research methodologies and ways to carry out the research in sensitive ways and for
the analysis of data collected from the research. After the mentor and researcher received the
trainings, they shared about the learning with members and staffs of WOFOWON and various
meetings were organized to plan to ensure empowerment of women workers along with the
processes of research.
During the research, all the staffs of WOFOWON were actively participated in documentation,
survey and processes of interviews. Our local researchers are young women who were working
in entertainment sector at the time and some who had worked in the sector sometime ago. The
local researchers were selected with respect to their interest and enthusiasm of being involved
in the research processes. They were provided orientations about violence against women,
women rights, labor rights and about the research as well. As they regularly go to their work
places, our young researchers voluntarily offered that when they meet their friends, they talked
to them about the research, shared their experiences. As a result, women workers could open
up more easily about themselves, our researchers told them about the organization and filled
up the survey forms. Their roles were also to invite friends during FGDs and encourage them for
documentation of their case studies. Our local researchers shared that the research has been
an empowering process and this has also created a platform to reach out for new friends,
increase their circles and have helped building movement in the community among women
workers to raise their voices by understanding their rights.
DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES
Documentation of case studies, focused group discussions, survey and key informant interviews were
implemented as primary data collection techniques for the research.
CASE STUDY (LIFE STORIES)
Case studies with real life stories of women, with their experiences while working as well as their socio-
cultural economic experiences since the childhood, were documented with 50 women including women
currently working and some who have worked in the past in entertainment sector. Number of currently
working and no of who have left the work, or currently not doingThe research focuses in the stories as

one of main sources of information. Consents were taken before documenting. Some of them wrote
their life stories themselves, while others shared about their life with researchers who they felt
comfortable with in the form of in-depth interviews. They wrote and shared what lead them to work in
the sector and what were their experiences while they worked in the sector, both the positive and
negative aspects, their feelings, about the problems and challenges they had to face and were/are
facing, about their current situation, about any incidences of violence they had faced. The process of
documentation was an emotional journey for both the researcher and the writers as digging up and
recalling sweet and bitter past memories, incidents of violence are mentally disturbing sometimes, our
participants for whom the realization became overwhelming, received psychosocial counseling and peer
support in case of psychosocial trauma.
Due to the social stigma attached to the work, many women workers are not able to inform their
families and society about their identity in association with their work. But writing down the life stories,
they shared they had realized the struggle they had gone through. And looking back at things made
them realize that the work they are doing is not wrong; instead, it is the negative attitude towards the
work of women imposed by patriarchal values and fundamentalism which is wrong. Along with data
collection, this technique helped to break the culture of silence within women workers and we expect
that it will be helpful to bring the lives of women who are ignored, marginalized by the state to the
frontline.
FOCUSED GROUP DISCUSSION (FGD)
Three focused group discussions were conducted with women workers working in Kathmandu,
Bhaktapur and Lalitpur districts in participation of 38 women workers.
FGDs provided a platform to discuss, know and share about their situation and condition in their
families, societies and at work places. During the FGDS, researchers gave information to all the
participants about the research, objectives and necessity of the research, about WOFOWON, to ease the
participants to open up researchers also shared about violence and human rights. The discussions were
mainly focused in sharing about work in entertainment sector, the condition, situation of women
workers at work places, society and family, problems and challenges. Participants shared about their
individual experiences, some incidents how they felt regarding the focus of discussion. At the beginning
of the discussions, everyone in the group was requested to maintain confidentiality about all the sharing
and mutually respecting each other.
List of Focused Group discussion (FGD)
S.N. Place/Venue Date Number of
participants
Form of
Documentation
1. Kathmandu district
(WOFOWON office)
12th
February, 2013 15 Voice record and
photographs
2. Bhaktapur district
(Office of Pragatisil
Mahila Sangh)
17th
March, 2013 15 Voice record and
photographs

FGDs helped to understand better about the situation of labor exploitation, problems and challenges of
women workers. The participants shared their good and bad experiences. About incidents of violence
against them, they also shared about their happy incidents, economic independence that came along
with their work. The local researchers were actively involved in informing other women workers, inviting
them and the participants encouraged each others to speak up during the discussions. Some
participants shared that they felt in companion and could relate their problem with other participants,
generating a sense of unity among all and respect towards each other.
It was initially determined that FGDs will be conducted in participation of women working in
entertainment sectors only. However, in one of the sessions of FGD, two women who were home
makers but not involved in the work in the sector were also participated in the discussion that took
place in Kathmandu district. They were taking dance training classes at WOFOWON and they were
interested to learn about women workers as they had become friends during the classes. They said they
were enthusiastic and wanted to participate in the discussion, so the researchers invited them with
consent of other participants. The participants were familiar with each other, at the end of the
discussion, they shared that their thinking towards women working in entertainment sector was
somehow negative, but now they came to know about hardship of women workers and that the
discussion changed their negative thinking. And, in another session, some participants who were not
working in the five areas we’ve allocated as sector of our research, but were doing independent sex
work were also participants in the discussion. They shared their experience of being more discriminated
in the society as the society has stigmatized sex work more than the work in entertainment sector due
to the control of patriarchal thought and structures on the right of women to her body and sexuality.
Some also shared how the work has helped sustain their life and that they accept their work as decent
work despite the challenges and despite the negative stigmatization from the society. Everyone in the
discussions respected each other.
SURVEY
A survey was done with 200 women working in entertainment sectors with a set of questions referring
to the status of human rights, labor rights, economic and socio-cultural rights of women working in the
sector. The survey was done with main objectives to identify the problems and challenges of women
workers in a wider range, about how they felt about their work and why they felt that way; also to
produce a factual documentation of current situation and condition of women working in the sector.
The survey also tried to take suggestions from women workers, their needs to end violence and
exploitation at the workplaces, society, and family and by the state.
Young women who were working and who had worked in the same sector were involved in the survey
as local researchers and enumerators. Members and staffs at WOFOWON actively participated as
3. Lalitpur district
(Meeting hall of
WOREC Nepal)
22nd
March, 2013 8 Voice record and
photographs

researchers during the process. The survey forms were filled up by direct interaction with individual
woman worker by the researcher and local researchers by going to work places, meeting with women
workers, building up good rapport, telling them about the research and by convincing them.
KEY-INFORMANT/STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEW
How many CDOs, how many human right activists, how many …During the pre-research activities, a
power mapping was done with women workers to identify which institutions can be stakeholders to
affect and address the issues of women working in this sector. On the basis of this and by consulting
with experts, key informants for interviews were identified and interviews were taken with owners of
businesses in entertainment sectors, representatives of owner’s unions, various government
representatives at Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur districts, and representatives of trade unions,
ministries, political parties, police administration, women human right activists and general public. The
interviews were taken in order to know and document their views and attitudes towards business in
entertainment itself and towards women workers, their understanding of the situation of women
workers, about what the government is doing to address the problems of women workers and what are
the difficulties in proper regulation of this sector by ending violence and exploitations against women
workers. The Key Informant Interview(KII)s were also aimed to inquire about legal status of the work,
collect their respective suggestions to address the issue; also to know their thoughts towards how state
should address the issue also had the questions regarding the directive passed by the Supreme Court.
As the issue of women working in the entertainment is much ignored even by the stakeholders and
responsible government bodies, the interviews helped generate a sensitization in the stakeholders
about the issue.
Please give information about how many informant was interviewed; how many from government,
women workers, police administration and trade union.
List of interviews
S.N Interviewee Date of
Interview
Form of
documentation
1. Business owners in
the entertainment
sectors
a. Dance Bar i. Thamel Night
Queen
5th
April, 2013 Audio
recording,
written
documentation
ii. Gogo dance bar,
Thamel
9th
April, 2013 Audio
recording,
written
documentation

b. Duet
Restaurant
i. Nepal Dohori,
Mitranagar,
Kathamndu
17th
April,
2013
Audio
recording,
written
documentation,
photographs
during the
interview
ii.
Jhajhalkodohorisaa
njh, Ekantakuna,
Lalitpur
27th
May,
2013
Audio
recording,
written
document
c. Cabin
Restaurant
Cabin restaurant,
Gongabu,
Kathmandu
19th
April,
2013
Audio
recording,
written
documentation,
photographs
during the
interview
d. Massage parlor Massage parlor,
Thamel
18th April,
2013
Audio
recording,
written
documentation
f. Open
Restaurant
Deepjyoti open
restaurant
10th
April,
2013
Audio
recording,
written
documentation
2. Business union in
the entertainment
sectors
a. Night-time Entertainment
business owners union
11th
April,
2013
Audio
recording,
written
documentation
b. National union of business
owners of massage parlors
19th
April,
2013
Audio
recording,
written
documentation
with
photographs
during the
interview
c. Dohori owners union 24th
April,
2013
Audio
recording,
written
documentation
3. National Women
Commission
Senior Legal advisor 27th
May,
2013
Written
documentation
4. Ministry of women,
children and social
welfare
Sub-secretary 17th
April,
2013
Written
documentation

5. Media News paper sub-editor 22nd
April,
2013
Audio
recording,
written
documentation
Radio reporter 26th
April,
2013
6. General public Representative of youth club
(Kathmandu)
10th
April,
2013
Audio
recording,
written
documentation
Youth representative from Lalitpur
district
12th
April,
2013
Youth representative from Bhaktapur
district
14th
April,
2013
7. Representative of
trade Union
Nepal Independent Hotel Labors Union 12th
April,
2013
Audio
recording,
written
documentation
8. Nepal Bar
Association
Vice-president June 13th,
2013
written
document
9. Central Distirct
Officer
(Kathmandu,
Bhaktapur and
Lalitpur districts
Chief district officer + Assistant chief
district officer, Kathmandu
14th
june,
2013
Written
document
Chief district officer Bhaktapur 6th
June, 2013 Verbal
interview,
written
document later
Chief district officer, Lalitpur 18th
June,
2013
Audio
recording,
written
documentation
10. Home ministry Only with the sub-secretary of legal
department
Verbal, written
document later
11. Police officials Police Inspector, Sorhakhutte Police
station
21st
June,
2013
Written
document
Police Sub-inspector, Gongabu, New
Buspark Police station
29th
June,
2013
Written
document
Hanumandokha Police station, Women
and children service centre, Kalimati
23rd
June,
2013
Written
document
Duty police, Durbarmarg Police station 29th
June,
2013
Written
document
12. Women and
children
Development office
Chief, Kathmandu audio recording
Chief, Bhaktapur 10th
June,
2013
Written
document
Chief, Lalitpur Written
document,
audio recording
13 Labor and
employment
ministry
Assistant secretary 19th
June,
2013
Written
document
14 National Human Human right officer, NeetuGartaula, 15th
May, Written

right Commission personal thoughts 2013 document
15 National
Information
Committee
Chief Reporter 30th
May,
2013
Written
document
18 Women human
right activists
BishnuNeupane, Loom Nepal 17th
May,
2013
Written
document
Chari Maya Tamang,ShaktiSamuha 4th
May, 2013 Written
document
ReetaThapa, Tewa Nepal 20th
June,
2013
Written
document
Dr. Renu Rajbhandari, NAWHRD,
WOREC
18th
July, 2013 Audio
recording +
written
document
Radha Paudel, NAWHRD, Action Works
Nepal
17th
June,
2013
Written
document
OBSERVATION
The research also included observation as a part of analyzing the situation. Observation was done by
going to the research fields and during interviews of the stakeholders also, their expression and attitude
towards the issue were observed by the researchers. While visiting the dance and duet restaurants at
night time, the environment of the working places, how the guests and owners are behaving with
women workers was observed.
TIME OF THE RESEARCH
The time frame of the whole research program was from August 2012 to July 2013.
S.N Activities Timeline
1. First Regional Training on Documentation of
Human Rights Violation
17th
to 21st
August, 2012
2. Pre-research induction activities November 2012 to December 2012
3. Second regional training on methodologies of
FPAR
13th
to 16th
December, 2012
4. Research and data collection January 2013 to June 2013
5. Third Regional Training on Data Analysis 8th
to 13th
July, 2013
3. Qualitative data analysis and Report
preparation
July 2013 to October 2013

RESEARCH AREAS
GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS
The main target areas of the research were mainly three districts, Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur
districts. The research was mainly focused in areas according to the location of businesses in
entertainment sectors.
S.N. District Places
1 Kathmandu Baagbazar, Balaju, Machhapokhari, New Baneshwor, Old baneshwor,
Bhimsengola, New Buspark, Chabahil, Jamal, Lainchwor, Chhetrapati,
Deepjyoti, Dillibazar, Durbarmarg, Gaushala, Gongabu, Kalanki, Kalimati,
Kalopul, Kamal pokhari, Lajimpat, Mitranagar, Manamaiju, Myagdi Chwok,
Putalisadak, Ratopul, Samakhushi, Sinamangal, Sundhara, Thamel, Basundhara ,
Jadibuti
2 Lalitpur Gwarko, Balkumari, Satdobato
3. Bhaktapur Suryabinayak, Thimi
SECTORAL AREAS
There are many categories of business in the entertainment sector. The research was done with
women working at five work places of entertainment sectors, which are also the target sectors of
WOFOWON. They are:
a. Dance bar
b. Dohori(duet) restaurant
c. Cabin restaurant
d. Open restaurant
e. Massage parlor
DEFINITION OF TERMS
DECENT WORK
To define decent work, International Labor Organization (ILO) states that ,
“Decent work sums up the aspirations of people in their working lives. It involves opportunities for work
that is productive and delivers a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for families,
better prospects for personal development and social integration, freedom for people to express their

concerns, organize and participate in the decisions that affect their lives and equality of opportunity and
treatment for all women and men.”8
The decent work concept was formulated by the ILO’s constituents – governments, employers and
workers. It is based on the understanding that work is a source of personal dignity, family stability,
peace in the community democracies that deliver for people and economic growth that expands
opportunities for productive jobs and enterprise development.
LIVING WAGE
The definition and exact estimation of living wage has been conflicted throughout the world.
However, Richard Anker, a retired senior economist at the ILO has expressed that,
“The idea of a living wage is that workers and their families should be able to afford a basic, but decent,
life style that is considered acceptable by society at its current level of economic development. Workers
and their families should be able to live above the poverty level, and be able to participate in social and
cultural life.”9
The cost for this basic quality life style is typically estimated by adding up cost of basic necessities such
as cost of a nutritious low-cost diet that is appropriate for the country in terms of the types of food
items included, basic housing in the location with an acceptable standard generally defined in terms of
size, number of rooms, structure‘s materials, and availability of amenities such as indoor toilet and
electricity; and adequate clothing and footwear (sometimes with specific numbers of shirts, pants,
shoes, etc., indicated); and cost of other needs, such as transportation, children‘s education, health
care, child care, household furnishings and equipment, recreation and cultural activities,
communications, and personal care and services. Sometimes a small margin above the total cost already
estimated for a frugal and basic life style is added to help provide for unforeseen events, such as
illnesses and accidents, so that common unforeseen events do not easily throw workers into a poverty
trap that they may never be able to get out of.
The latest ILO Minimum Wage Setting Convention (No. 131, 1970), and Recommendation (No. 135,
1970) have also provided additional clarification that workers‘ needs should provide more than
subsistence needs to overcome poverty and include social security benefits, being based in part on
societal standards of other social group and be appropriate in relation to national practices and
conditions; and should be sufficient to support a family and not just a worker.
As mentioned earlier in the introduction, Nepal has ratified the conventions of ILO and has
agreed to abide by the responsibilities of monitoring and ensuring that labors in Nepal are
8
http://www.ilo.org/global/topics/decent-work/lang--en/index.htm
9
Richard Anker, Estimating a living wage: A methodological review; Conditions of Work and
Employment Series No. 29, ILO (http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_protect/---protrav/---
travail/documents/publication/wcms_162117.pdf)

receiving their rights. But, women working in entertainment sector, most being full time,
some overtime labors have been denied of their right to decent work and living wage.
CHAPTER II – FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS
During the processes and activities of the FPAR, approximately 400 women working in entertainment
sectors of diverse age group, mostly from the age from the age of 15 to 48 years from Kathmandu,
Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts were affiliated with the research.
Among 200 women workers in the survey, 65% of the women workers were from the age group 18 to
25. Mostly young women are selected for the work. We also found 7%, 15 girls were below the age of
18. Only 1% of the respondents were above the age of 40 to 48, 5% were from age group 30 to 40. The
research comprises of 69% of respondents were from ethnic groups.
The research showed that most of the women who are working in entertainment sector are internally
migrated from districts outside of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur districts, especially from villages
and are working at various workplaces in entertainment sector. 96% of women workers who responded
for the survey were internally migrated from villages from rural districts to Kathmandu, Lalitpur and
Bhaktapur districts and working at various places in entertainment sectors.
The chart also shows that most of the women workers are internally migrated. Only 7 women workers
among 200 were from Kathmandu and one worker from Lalitpur district. It is very crucial to analyze the
socio-cultural, economic and political status of women in our society. Mostly women during the 10 years
long civil war in the country, many women were displaced from their villages due to threats from both
the side of Maoist rebellions and the government side. At the time, they had to run away to cities from
their villages. When they came to cities like Kathmandu, they couldn’t find any other work than in the
entertainment sectors.
Preeti (name changed) who have worked in this sector for 5 years shares,
“We were living in a village at my birth place. I and my mother used to live separately in my
mother’s parent’s home as my father had excluded us from home, property, his life, everything
when my mother gave birth to a daughter, who was me. The daily lives of kids, especially girls in
villages would be spent in going to field to work, grazing cattles, taking care of household works,
helping their mother and going to school if they were allowed. It was harder for those who had
to be victims of domestic violence due to gender based discrimination. I was also passing my
days toiling on the land, working my sweats off, grazing cattles, transporting firewood, getting
scolded by my grandmother for going to school. Then when the civil war broke, it became more
difficult for youths to stay at home. The
rebellions would come and try to force to go
along with them and the armies would
threaten and beat us by suspecting to be secret
messengers of the rebellions. The situation
7
1
192
Permanent
districts
Kathmandu
Lalitpur

started getting tensed around 2002 and 2003. We were a group of friends who were being
searched by both the army and the rebellions. So we discussed and decided to escape from there
and go to Kathmandu to save our lives. We had thought we could find jobs in Kathmandu and
live there, at least survive. So, I came to Kathmandu with 4 of my other friends. My grandmother
would always torture me when I tried to study. So I couldn’t study after class 8 when I was in
village. When we came to Kathmandu, we couldnot find any job as my friends also didn’t have
any academic certificates nor did we have any professional skills. After roaming around for days
and living on one meal a day, sometime hungry, I found a job at a cabin restaurant through one
of my friends’ friend.”
Life Story of Dolma Tamang (name changed)
Dolma Tamang left her previous job as waitress in a dance bar as she was not given salary while she
shared her story of why she came to Kathmandu from her village and her experiences of working in the
entertainment sector like this:
I was born in a poor farmer family. I was the second kid among the nine of us. Being born in a poor family in one
hand and in the other hand living in a society where daughters were not allowed to get education. When I told
my father and mother that I also wanted to go to school as my brothers, they would scold me and told me that
there was no use of me going to school and studying because in future, all I would have to do is get married and
go to my future husband’s home. At that time when I saw my other friends go to school, I used to feel very bad
and hurt. I used to think it was my own evil fate to be born as a girl, if I was also born as a son, I also could go to
school. I was deprived of getting education despite my strong will. I pray with god that other Nepali daughters
won’t have to face the same situation like me.
After my elder brother got separated, as the eldest child at home, the burden of household works increased and
came directly on to my shoulders. When I became 15 years old, my aunt (my father’s sister)’s son would have the
right to marry me and as we used to meet each other frequently, we started liking each other. So we eloped and
got married without informing our families and relatives. Till after 2-3 months of marriage, he showed love
towards me.
I became the eldest daughter-in-law of the family. So I had to do all the household works, works at the farm and
grazing cattle, bringing fodders and feeding the cattle. After 4 months of marriage I became pregnant. my
husband, the person who had promised to support me all the way along in my life, started humiliating me from
the time I got pregnant. I was so young while I got pregnant. I used to get treated worse than servants. I worked
for others; I worked as labor in construction works. Even in my pregnant condition, I used to go to work with a
lot of hardship but as my husband and my brother-in-laws were young (even I was equally young like them);
they would only roam around with other boys. My father-in-law was also addicted to alcohol and playing cards.
My mother-in-law and my husband would always scold me and torture me by cursing and telling me that I had
relations with other boys in the neighborhood. My husband started beating me a lot. I told my mother-in-law,
expecting for some support from her side. She scolded me instead. As I had eloped with my husband by my own
wish, if he would leave me, and that even with a baby in my womb, I would have no place to live, no place to go.
I gave birth to my daughter in September of 2003. They called me ill-fated, that I had given birth to a girl as first
child. When I asked my husband if I could go to my parent’s for few days, he kicked me and beat me so badly
that I fainted. I had no idea about any family planning tools so I became pregnant for the second time.

I gave birth to my second child, a son in 2004. I did not have to suffer much at the time as I had given birth to a
son this time.
my husband went to Qatar to work and earn, by taking loan at heavy interest. it would be 11-12 at the night
when I could finish all my works at home after I returned from working outside in the evening. But how much so
ever I worked and struggled, I was never thanked for my endeavors.
my father-in-law hit me badly with sharp wood when I was just speaking to some relative brothers in the
neighborhood. And when I was about to talk to my husband about living separately, my mother-in-law had
already talked to him on phone and provoked my husband against me. So when I telephoned him with
expectation of support, he called me slut and whore and scorned at me, ordering me to leave my kids there and
leave his home at once. . I could not imagine leaving my kids, they were like pieces of my own heart. And if I
would go to my parent’s home with my kids, I was afraid what the society will tell me. I felt so option less and at
a time that I was even convinced committing suicide. I could not. I remembered the innocent faces of my little
kids.
I had to do all the work, but they would not give me even nice food to eat. It used to be very hard for me to bear
it all every day. It had been already three years that my children had not talked to their father in phone. When I
could no more console myself, I called him to ask him how he was. He ordered me to leave his house
immediately by leaving ‘his’ kids there and he hung up the phone.
I got the news that my own sister at my parent’s home was very sick. I went to my parent’s house to see her by
leaving my kids at my husband’s home. The doctor told us to take her to Kathmandu as soon as possible.
I came to Kathmandu with my sister for her treatment. she would have to be admitted for a month so I stayed in
Kathmandu to take care of my sister. While I was staying at Kathmandu to look after my sister, I came to know
my friends who were staying at Kathmandu. we returned home.
As soon as I reached my parent’s home, I rushed the day after to my husband’s home. But when I reached there,
they started humiliating me, They humiliated me so much that I could not walk in the society keeping my head
straight. I could not go to my parent’s home as my kids were already so big. So instead of always suffering from
the injustice and violence, I decided, may whatever happen, I would go to Kathmandu.
As I reached Kathmandu, at first I requested a person I had met in hospital beforehand, to search a work for me.
He had known ‘Ganga Jamuna Guest House’ at Mitranagar in Kathmandu. As I was uneducated and did not have
any other professional skill, I got the work of cleaning and washing dished at the guest house. My salary was
only $15 (1,200 NRs.) Per month and I could stay and eat at the same hotel. The owners were husband and wife;
they behaved with me very nicely, as if I was their daughter. And, seeing my innocent face and my villager’s
attire, guests would also leave me $1 to $5 (100-500 NRs) as tips.
I used to meet a girl daily. We used to share all our stories of happiness and sadness with each other. In this way
I found a very good friend.
While working in Guest House, I had seen people bring bags full of money, gold, very good mobile and television
sets from abroad. I also began thinking about going to foreign land to earn. I decided to go abroad. I was
committed I thought no one else knew about my sufferings. I called my brother at Qatar and requested him to
send me some money and when he did, I went back to my village and made my passport. I asked a brother, who
use to come at the guest house, to help me get visa for Lebanon.

For a villager girl like me who had only seen airplanes flying in the sky, it was scary to actually get on in one.
After I got off at Dubai, I got into another airplane to Lebanon. When I reached Lebanon, I found that the
appearance, language, dresses and everything of the people there was so very different. My job was to clean
dishes, clothes, clean their houses and cook as per their orders and my salary was $140 (Nrs. 12,000) per month.
Wearing Burkha (black veil) was compulsory at that place. They would not give me good food to eat, would not
allow me take a mobile or make a phone call to Nepal. As I could not ask anything in their language, it was very
difficult for me to work there. suddenly I started having problem of feeling pain at my heart. I started thinking
that if I would die there, I would not even get to see the faces of my mother and my kids for the last time. Due to
this thought, I could not eat or sleep well. I strongly felt that there could not be anyone in the world more ill-
fated than me.
I returned to Nepal and got back to the same guest house where I used to work. I told my owners about
everything, how I had to suffer in Lebanon. I got medical treatment and I started to work there as cook. Back
then, my salary was just $17 (1,500 Nrs) per month.
I got a job at children’s video parlor in 2010. With my little salary, in some days, we did not have anything to eat
or some days we could eat only little just to survive. But then the parlor where I worked also got closed. We were
already tired of continuously searching for job, they would ask for skills and certificates for any sort of jobs.
While searching for job restlessly, a brother offered us a job and I became ready to work.
Since September 2011, I started working as waitress in Los Angeles Dance Bar in Thamel. The owner had agreed
me a salary of $58 (NRS.5,000) and extra tips. The work was from 6 in the evening to mid night 12 o’clock. The
dinner was given at the work place and it would be 1 or 2 am when I would reach home. The owner would not
give me full salary even after the months would pass. He would only give me sometimes $5, $11 or $17 (NRs.
500, 1000 or 1,500) at maximum. I had to stay with guests and eat, the guests would speak of anything when
they went drunk and behave badly. some guest would also say they liked me and they would marry me but I
never trusted anyone as I already had such a bad experience of marrying a male and living in his house.
Meanwhile, my friend Bishnu, who was my friend and my support in all my happiness and sorrow, also went
abroad. While she left, she had told me that she had been living in my income for so long; “after I will earn there,
I will send you money and you will not have to work in restaurants”.
When house-owners would know that a women works in restaurants, they would not give her rent and if they
knew it after some time, they forced her to move out. The neighbors and surrounding people also used to back
bite and would not even want to speak to a woman working in restaurants. Then, I was one the women working
in restaurants. I felt bad.
Through a friend, I came to know about an organization called Women Forum for Women in Nepal, which is a
network of women working in entertainment sectors. I am very happy to be able to come to the organization
and there became able to learn new skills and got trainings. Although I worked at night time, I used to wake up
in the morning, cook and eat my lunch and reach at the office for trainings at 11am in the mornings.
There I get to talk to women who have been victims of violence like me. And I feel relieved while I can talk to
people who are alike me. I also go to rallies and protests to appeal for justice to those who have been victims of
injustice, exploitation and sexual exploitation. I was giving continuity to my work and equally at the same time
being involved in protests and rallies for right and justice.

But at the place I worked, they would not give me
salary in time and they would also scold me through
phone even at the days when I could not go to office
due to sickness. I made a calculation later on; I had to
get $708 (NRs. 60,000) in total from my job in the
calculation of $59 (NRS. 5,000) per month as I had
worked for a year there. But, I have been given and
I’ve taken only $235 (Nrs. 20,000) for all the time I had
worked there. They would not give me salary. So now-
a-days, I have not gone to work.
WOFOWON has arranged basic computer training for
us. I have been learning to use computer lately and I
know now that I will continue to work for our rights. I
want to specially thank the senior sisters of the
organization. I trust that I will get full support from the organization. I also expect that the organization will
manage to let me get engaged in some work as my capacity would meet.
Although all my life I had to live with difficulties and pain, I feel that if I can do something for my kids, I would be
very thankful. Now-a-days I am looking for ways to achieve that and spending my days in the same hope.
Dolma’s story is not just her individual study, her story represents stories and voices of many women in
Nepal. Domestic violence, lack of access to property and resources, identification, education are also the
main reasons behind migration of women to cities and getting involved in work of entertainment
sectors. Nepali society is a male dominated society, daughters are denied of access to education, are
humiliated by our own families and discriminated. **can draw conclusion directly??? Or shift it towards
the last part!
The chart no lll aside also shows that only 42% of women workers who have filled the survey forms have
studied up to secondary level.
Women did not have right to property until 1999 and still the right to property was very discriminatory
on the part of women. However the amendment of Constitution of Nepal 2006 has stated that male and
female are equally entitled to the parental property, but it has not been implemented effectively.
Women have to depend on father or husband to get citizenship. In the context of poverty, women
become doubly affected by these patriarchal social practices. Girls are married at very early age, mostly
without their consent and against their will. They are not given education. Due to poverty, most of the
families don’t have enough food to eat, their basic needs is also not fulfilled. Women who suffer from
violence within their families, their fathers, mothers, step fathers, the society, after marriage they have
to suffer from violence from their husband, in-laws, and if she gives birth to a girl child, has to go
through more violence. So women workers are also denied of the right to property.
A woman’s work is not given any value in family and society. Be it house hold work, or work in
agricultural sector or some economic work, a woman’s work is always undermined. And women are
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
13
20
40 42
62
19
4
Educational background of
respondents

falsely praised that they have to be “statue of tolerance” and it is considered as execution of ‘good
behavior’ for a woman. So, most women keep on tolerating all forms of violence and torture. But,
when a woman can’t tolerate the violence and exploitation, they migrate to cities in the hope to get a
job, a better life. As they don’t have educational qualifications or any other skills, and necessary
documents like citizenships, migration certificate, it is very difficult for them to get other work.
As these academic qualifications and other formal documents are generally not necessary to get a job at
the entertainment sectors, women can get the job easily and fast. So women start working in the sector
even at very low wages.
From the study of life stories of women workers it is seen that there are also women who work at places
like massage parlors, dance bar and restaurants because of their skills. Some are interested and talented
in dancing and singing since their childhood. It provides them a platform to sharpen and practice their
art, as well as earn money for their livelihood. Some start working in the sector as part time job. Some
generate the expenses of their study. Some have also been cheated by agents and made to work in this
sector forcefully without their consent.
Shital Bohora(name changed) works as a singer in a duet restaurant. She shares her experiences of
starting to work in duet restaurant in Kathmandu in her life story like this,
“ …I had passed SLC so I thought I could get a nice job after going to Kathmandu so I came to Kathmandu
thinking that I could help my mom. I walked for days searching for a job from places to places of
Kathmandu with certificate in my hand. I saw that boys who have graduated also jobless. Boys would sit
at parks, eating peanuts under sun and girls who don’t get job, work at food restaurants, dance bars and
duet restaurants in Kathmandu. I had dreamed of going to Kathmandu, getting good job and being able
to eat good food and wear good clothes. As I didn’t get any work, my sister with whom I was staying also
started scolding me. Then one day I suddenly met a friend from village, she worked at a duet restaurant,
hearing my difficulties she took me to her work place to work. I didn’t know how a duet restaurant
restaurant would be so I was nervous as well as excited……”
Later on after working in dance bars and few other duet restaurants, Shital has not got a job as singer in
duet restaurant. She has written,
“ I wanted to sing from my childhood. I was very happy to be able to an artist, a singer who sings from
stage”.
Working in the sector has surely provided economic independence and security to women workers to a
much an extent. But they are vulnerable to risks of labor exploitation, physical, mental and sexual
violence.
DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK PLACES IN RELATION TO WORK
DONE BY WOMEN WORKERS

Before moving on to the description of problems and challenges faced by women workers, here,
the workplaces and nature of work are shortly described.
a. Dance bar: Dance bars are restaurants where customers can watch dance performances performed
by both women and men. Female employees at dance bars work in various positions as dancers,
waitresses, hostesses, captains, bartenders and GROs (Guest Relation Officers). 47% of the
respondents in the survey are women working at dance bars. Dancing is considered to be a skilled
job, thus, dancers are paid more in comparison to other positions. Waitress have do work like
cleaning the work place, arranging tables, napkins, taking orders, serving thecustomers. There is a
system that waitresses have to sit together with costumers and take drinks, food or alcohol along
with customers if the customer agrees to pay for their food as well. “Hostesses have to welcome the
customers, arrange tables for them, sit and eat with them at some of the restaurants;whereas at
other restaurants, hostesses have to take care of the bills. Captains have to make all the bills, and
make sure the customers pay the bills. Guest Relation Officers (GROs)have to make sure more and
more customer visit the places. They have to politely speak with the customers”, said Karisma (name
changed) who has worked in dance bars and duet restaurants for more than 4 years now, in one of
the FGDs.
“Women used to work in the position of GRO more frequently in the context of 4 years back. However,
the system of keeping GROs has decreased now”. *in the research survey, only 7 among 200 women
workers were working in the post of GRO. GRO are often made to call costumers. The owners often cut
down their salaries if they can’t call enough costumers. “Hostesses are assigned the work of GROs now-
a-days” , said Karishma. Sita Khadka (name changed) who is working at a dance restaurant at Mitranagar
then as a hostess further shared,
“in the last dance restaurant I worked, the owner didn’t give me salary for a whole month saying that I
haven’t called enough costumers in the past month and claiming that the sales is very low. I asked for
salary for nearly 2 weeks afterwards, I couldn’t get salary, so I left the place and started working at
another restaurant. I don’t know many costumers as I’m new to work. The owner at this new restaurant
has said my salary would be 2500. Let’s see what happens here”.
The participants in FGD shared that a hostess who
can call costumers will get a phone recharge card
per individual or group of costumers and
commission as per the sales they make to the
costumers. Later on while giving the salary, the
owner looks at the record of recharge cards and
deducts money ranging from RS. 1500 or 1000 or
500 or the owner doesn’t give salary at all if a
woman worker has less number of recharge cards.
**reposition
94
47
33
15
6 5
Respondents of the survey
according to their work places
Dance bar
Duet restaurant
Cabin restaurant
Open restaurant
Massage Parlor
Other (casino, gajal
restaurant)

Women workers are also often forced to drink alcohol and smoke by the costumers and the owners
opposite to their will.
b. Dohori(Duet) restaurant: Duet restaurants are restaurants which offer live folk music along with
food and beverages. Women employees here work as singers, waitresses, captain and hostesses. In
the duet restaurants, a group of boys and group of girls sing together. One group sings a song in
certain folk rhythm, with words targeting to convey some message to the other group and the other
group replies by creating song instantly in the same rhythm. “Dohori” is also a cultural folk singing,
practiced specially in western part of Nepal.
Singers, waitresses, hostesses have to wear Nepali cultural dresses, saarees, etc mostly. Dohori
restaurants also stay open till late like dance bars. Like dancers in a dance bar, singers in Duet
restaurants are paid more in comparison to other positions. Waitresses and Hostesses have similar
work like that in dance bars. 24% of the respondents in the research survey were women workers
from various dohori restaurants. Here, women are vulnerable to exploitation by the owners,
costumers and coworkers due to the thinking that women are utilities and can be used in any ways
and also due to absence of implementation of directive, lack of law and proper monitoring. Here
too, women are paid very less.
c. Cabin restaurant: A closed food and beverages restaurant where women workers have to sit
together and eat with the guest/customer. Women generally work as waitresses and hostesses in
cabin restaurants. Mostly, food is brought from outside the restaurant in such restaurants. Women
workers are offered very less salary, somewhere they aren’t given salary and they have to earn on
the basis of commission from the food and beverages they are able to sell, the money costumer
pays to buy food for them to eat and occasional tips from the costumer. Their duties are to
call/invite customers, serve them and essentially maximize restaurant sales. Most of the cabin
restaurants open at 9 am or earlier and close at 9 pm, which is almost 12-14 consecutive hours of
work. Some women work only on the basis of the customers they can bring to the restaurant and
serve as long as the customer remains at the restaurant, while others work full time. 17%
respondents are women working in cabin restaurants.
d. Massage parlor: Massage parlors are the places providing services such as body massages. The
women working in massage parlors face significant insecurity and threats. They are paid on an
hourly basis, with the average price of a massage being $8 Make sure same currency used through
out the report. per hour, from which the masseuse only receives 25% of the payment. In massage
parlors, women workers are vulnerable to sexual exploitation from the costumers. As the work
involves directly body contact, the costumers try to take advantage by forcing women workers. As
most of the massage parlors have closed rooms and not transparent windows, women working at
massage centers or massage parlors are at risk of forceful sexual abuses. Only 6% of our total
respondents were from massage parlors. The sector is more stigmatized as it is overall linked with
sex work and women’s right to body is more restricted in Nepalese society. Due to this reason,
women workers in massage parlor are compelled to hesitate more about opening up about their
work.

e. Open restaurant: Open restaurants are open food and beverages restaurant. Women work here as
cooks, waitresses. The open restaurants do not offer any service like in massage or entertainment
like in dance and dohori restaurant. Fast food cafés, restaurants all fall under the category of open
restaurant however, the research mainly focuses on alcohol selling shops, often called as ‘Bhatti
pasal’ and small restaurants.
Among the five areas, dance bar and duet restaurants operate at night time; and open restaurant, cabin
restaurant and massage parlors generally operate ranging from early in the morning to late in the
evening, before 9pm. The government has fixed the closing time for night time entertainment sector by
24:00. However, one of the owners said in the interview, “Dance and Dohori restaurants have to close by
11:30pm in Lalitpur district, otherwise police comes to shut down the places”.
Opening from 9 to 10 in the morning and running till 3-4am till next day. Before 2065 B.S. (2008 AD), the
restaurants would operate even till the morning or generally close around 2 or 3 am. However, as Bhakti
(name changed) who has worked in this sector for 6 years now says, “after new rule implemented by the
government in 2065 BS (2008 AD), the places have to close by 12am”.
PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES
OF WOMEN WORKERS
POOR WAGE AND LABOR EXPLOITATION
Women working in the entertainment sector
are compelled to work in very low pay and are
often not provided salary. Women workers are
mostly in need of a job which can provide
them even minimum of economic support, the
owners take advantage of the compulsion of
women workers. They are not given any contract letter or appointment letter regarding what
work they have to do and how much will they get paid. In a verbal agreement, the owner fixes
salary ranging from 1500, 2000 to 6000 in average (Dancers and singers are paid higher
however). But women workers are often not given salary as they would be promised at the first
place.
Bina Katuwal who is working in duet restaurant, says in an interview, “they (the owners) say
that there is a lot of money in this job, you can get a lots of tips, and fixes a salary of around
3500 to 4000 and says that we could earn more than 15000 easily. With the hope we start
working. But only later on we come to realize that it is far from the truth. The tips turn out to be
occasional from costumers and the owner can anytime refrain from giving the salary even long
1%
20%
73%
6%
Working hours of respondent
women workers
1 to 4 5 to 8 9 to 12 13 to 16

after the end of month. If we keep asking, they give us reasons like, you haven’t done any sales,
you haven’t called any costumers or there is no sales at all. And if we keep insisting, they tell us
to leave the work or do whatever we want but they wouldn’t give salary.”
In the survey, 73% of women workers work for 9 to 12 hours a day, 6% said they have to work
for 13 to 16 hours a day, 6% said that they have to work from 5 to 8 hours and only 1% said
their working time is less than 4 hours.
When interviewed the owners in the sector later on and asked if they provided timely salary,
some claimed that women workers did not have to work for 8 hours or more than that, so they
can’t give
them the
minimum
salary
fixed by
the
governme
nt. Some
said
women
workers
take all the
money and leave the work. But this statement was not true in maximum cases.
If there were some kind of appointment letters, the owners would have to abide by some
document. But as the agreement is verbal, they easily refrain from taking the responsibility to
be accountable.
There are also work places where women workers said, they got salary in time. Some owners
also said that they would give salary to workers sometimes even by cutting their personal
expenses. However, the range of salary is very much low in almost all the work places.
yes
72%
no
28%
Getting monthly
salary
yes
79%
no
21%
Among those who get
monthly salary, do they
get it in time?

The above charts represent that 72% of the total respondents said that they get monthly salary
and 28% did not get monthly salary. And even among those who get monthly salary, 79% said
they got salary in time, where as 21% said they don’t get salary in time.
As the charts suggest, 27% women workers shared that their salary is less than NPR. 4,000 per
month. And 27% have monthly income ranging from 4 to 6 thousand. Only 28%women workers
had salary ranging from 6 to 10 thousand and 19% women workers had salary more than 10
thousand. This also shows that the range salary is very less.
The labor and employment ministry of Nepal has allocated the minimum salary of workers and
employees working in business companies except for tea garden as Rs. 5100 with 2900 as price
hike incentive which makes it total of Rs. 8000 and the daily wage as Rs. 318 which makes the
monthly earning Rs 9540 minimum per month. But most of the women workers do not get this
facility. Singers and dancers get more salary compared to other positions. However, the salary
of waitress is usually low. It differs from one work place to another and also differs within a
same workplace.
The table below represents the details of monthly income of women workers during the survey,
in relation to the type of work they do.
Monthly income
Total
less than
2
thousand
2 to 4
thousand
4 to 6
thousand
6 to 8
thousand
8 to 10
thousand
Above 10
thousand
Type of
work
Waiter 1 44 20 4 4 13 86
Dancer 0 0 2 12 18 20 52
Singer 0 0 3 2 4 3 12
Captain 0 2 2 1 2 0 7
Hostage 0 2 21 2 1 0 26
Cook 0 2 2 0 0 0 4
GRO 0 2 2 1 0 2 7
Massage 0 0 1 4 1 0 6
Total 1 52 53 26 30 38 200
-1%
26%
27%
13%
15%
19%
Monthly Income
Less than
2,000
2 to 4
thousand
4 to 6
thousand
6 to 8
thousand
8 to 10
thousand
Above 10
thousand
3%
28%
21%
16%
21%
11%
Monthly Expenditure
Less than
2000
2 to 4
thousand
4 to 6
thousand
6 to 8
thousand
8 to 10
thousand
Above 10
thousand

Seema Magar is 27 years old. She started to work at Dohori 5 years back. She has two sons and is living
at Kathmandu with the two sons. Her husband had gone for foreign employment and when he started
earning good sum of money, he had telephoned Seema and told her to shift with her two sons to
Kathmandu and to admit her sons to expensive private school. Seema had happily came to Kathmandu.
But soon, her husband stopped sending money. It became very difficult to sustain her life in Kathmandu
with two sons studying at private school. She shares in her life story,
“…Because it was impossible for me to live in Kathmandu without a job, I began working at Panchebaja
Dohori as a waiter. They told me they would pay me Rs 5,000 and did so for two –three months. But soon
they began to not give us our salary on time. Even when they did, they paid us less than what was
promised. Soon, I along with other female co-workers started getting harassed at work. We also filed a
police report. With support from Women Forum for Women Nepal, we got some aid…
…It is very difficult for me to work as a dancer and pay for my children’s education. The pay is not that
good and when there isn’t much business at the restaurant, we don’t get paid. I don’t even get the tips
that the customers leave for me. Sometimes, I don’t even have money for transportation or for my meals.
Currently, I’m learning dance from Women Forum for Women Nepal and working in Go Go Dance Bar in
Thamel as a dancer.
In the mean time, the previous owner had sold the restaurant. We went to NFHCRLU and placed an
application to receive our pending salary but the case is still going on.”
Like Seema, most of the women workers promised a certain amount of money but are not given what
they are promised. Ritu Thapa works at an open restaurant. She has experiences of working at many
open restaurants at many parts of Nepal like Pokhara, Muglin, Myagdi and Kathmandu. She shares what
she had done when the owners at a place she worked didn’t give her salary,
“…I returned to Kathmandu after 2 years and started working in an open restaurant in Samakhushi. I
had to do all the work as both waitress and cook. They used to give only 1500 per month. I used to be
afraid when the costumer called me.. At first they gave salary in time. But the restaurant was shifted in
another place. After that they didn’t give me salary. I kept asking for my salary but as they didn’t give me
my salary even after asking for so many times, then I took a blanket, a plate, a bowl from there, beat the
owner and came out of there..”
In the survey 136 women workers said that they raised voice if they don’t get salary and if they don’t get
salary in time by talking to the owner, fighting, visiting helping organizations and leaving work as well.
However, no one told that they would go for legal processes to get their salary. Sambida, who works at a
dance restaurant says, “I try to talk nicely at first, but if they don’t give salary even then, then I ask for
my salary by fighting”.

However, the owners mostly refuse to give salary showing that the sales is low or they haven’t called
enough costumers. As there is no appointment or agreement letter, it is difficult for women workers to
fight for their salary as well.
Again, 33% women workers said they didn’t / couldn’t raise voice even while not getting salary in time
because of fear of losing job, fear of not getting work, fear of getting threatened, fear of insecurity and
fear of loneliness. When women worker are new to work, they can’t negotiate with the owner as they
are not familiar what will happen if they ask for their salary with their owner.
They say like, “I am new so I don’t know anything, I’m afraid of talking to the owner.” “ I am small so I ‘m
afraid. “ “No because she had helped me to manage my expenses during my pregnancy.”
There is a constant fear of losing the job. Specially for the one who have newly entered work, girls fear
that they might lose their jobs so they are compelled to work at the same place by tolerating labor
economic as well as labor exploitation.
Some women workers get salary in small pieces in the form of advance before the month according to
their need by asking with the manager or owner.
NO APPOINTMENT LETTER
Talking
to the
owner Fighting
Visiting
organizations
Leaving
work
Legal
process
94 18 5 7 0
Fear of
losing
job
Fear of not
getting
work
Fear of
threaten
Fear of
insecurity
Fear of
loneliness
11 1 4 6 7

Ritu (name changed) worked at a dance bar at Teku but her owner denied giving her salary equal to 13
thousand rupee which was pending from three months. When Ritu was in need of money, her owner
didn’t give her. She came to WOFOWON for support. while going to support her by giving application at
Trade union NFHCRLU, the researchers saw that it was very difficult to collect evidence that it was her
money. When we tried to bring the attendance sheet (in some of the restaurants, workers are given an
attendance to mark their attendance at work). But the owner took it from Ritu and they prepared a
whole new fake attendance sheet and dismissed the original. Finally we succeeded to make the owner
pay only 8 thousand rupee as he had cut down many attendance by faking Ritu’s signature. So it is
difficult for women workers to fight for their salary as it is very difficult to collect evidences, specially
because they aren’t provided any document of proof of allocation of salary beforehand.
Nearly 100% of women workers didn’t get appointment letter. Among who 27% didn’t know what an
appointment letter is. However, as the researchers had talked to one woman working at a casino, which
is outside the sector of research who are given appointment letter to show that the system can be
managed because the nature of work done at casino by a dancer is similar to the work done by women
worker at normal dance bar. Thus, it seems possible to start the system if the government puts pressure
on the owners by legally recognizing it as a sector of employment and formulating/implementing rules
and monitoring them properly. Owners should also be convinced to maintain the system. However
many women workers (27% as shown in the survey) don’t have information of what appointment letter
is. thus it seems crucial that the organizations who are working for empowerment of women should
start creating massive awareness on this.
While interviewing the owners, they say that provision of appointment letter is difficult. They have their
reasons like, “
 there is no guarantee of our own work, how can we give guarantee of their work
 there is no one to manage the system
 we’ve given
them id card, there is no
proper valuation or no
basis to give
appointment letter as
there is no guarantee of
owner as well as worker
 I don't know what Is
appointment letter,
when I worked, no one
gave that to me, so
when I started the
business, I also don't
know, I think it is not
government work, so
they can leave whenever
they want
 workers go where they find it good and I didn't know about appointment letter earlier
1
145
54
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Appointment letter
Yes
No
No Information

 the system couldn't be applicable because there is no continuity in the work, staffs are also
reluctant to do contract
 There is no basis to give appointment letter, workers don’t work for long time at the same place,
they learn work and leave the place, there is unhealthy competition to attract staffs from
different companies.”
However, during the survey, only 15 women workers said that they have been working at their last work
place for less than 5 months. There are women workers who have worked at a same work place from 6
months to 10 years and among the 7 owners we interviewed, the mobility of staffs 5 of the owners said
that they are running the business since more than 5 years. Only one of the owners had started the
business almost 1 year and 6 months ago. Although the mobility of staffs and owners seems to be
manifested reason behind not assigning appointment letter, but while analyzing the situation, it seems
that the “feeling” of insecurity of work in both owners and staffs due to lack of recognition from the
government is working behind this. Because as the government has not given legal value and
recognition to the work, owners are also insecure whether their business will be shut down at any time
by the government.
Also, as most of the women who work in this sector are in some way at financial crisis, the owners also
take advantage of the situation of women workers. While they give the job, they try to project that they
are doing a favor to the woman. So women workers become vulnerable towards various forms of
exploitation. They are compelled to agree on minimum pay as well. However, it is important to
remember that staffs and owners are equally necessary to create job and to create work.
Bina Katuwal (name changed), who worked a duet restaurant till a week ago from the interview says, “I
had gone out of valley because I had to be present at court for the hearing of legal case I was fighting
with my ex-husband my and my son’s right to property, I had told the owner before hand and he had
agreed to take me back to work after one week. During the time, I became sick when I was out of time.
So I could return after 8 days, 1 day additional to what I had informed. The next day when I went back to
work, the owner said that I couldn’t work there anymore because I had been absent for many days. I
reminded him that he had agreed to give me leave and also told him he doesn’t need to pay for my
absent days. but he just ordered the cashier to clear my dues and told me to not to come again. I lost my
job in that way. There is no guarantee when a owner will fire you from work, it depends on their moods”
If there will be provision of appointment letter, there will be at least some guarantee of security of
work. It will also be beneficial to the owners, as they also will be comfortable to know that how long is a
staff there to work at the company.
VIOLENCE AT THE WORKPLACE
Women working in entertainment sectors are vulnerable to and facing various forms of labor
exploitation, mental, physical, sexual and economic violence at their work places. 66% of respondents in
the survey said that they have suffered from one or other forms of violence at their work places.
S.No.
Type of violence Perpetrators

Women in Entertainment Sectors Face Rights Violations

Women in Entertainment Sectors Face Rights Violations

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