The government has announced that participation in the contribution-based Social Security Fund (SSF) will be mandatory for all employed individuals beginning fiscal year 2025/26.
Presenting the government’s annual policies and programmes before the joint session of the federal parliament, President Ramchandra Paudel stated, “All individuals employed under any form of contractual or service arrangement will be required to enroll in the SSF, with the fund’s mandate and coverage significantly expanded.”
To ensure compliance, new legal provisions will require companies, cooperatives, firms, and other organized entities to furnish proof of employee enrollment and regular contributions to the SSF when renewing their registrations.
In the education sector, the government plans to reassess existing teacher quotas and establish a “Teacher Bank” in partnership with universities. Residential schools will be developed in geographically remote areas, and national standards for teacher qualifications will be implemented.
Higher education will undergo structural reforms to make it more research-driven, with academic quality benchmarks enforced down to the local level. Additionally, university grants will be distributed based on student enrollment.
In the health sector, the government will integrate all forms of aid and subsidy programmes into the national health insurance system starting next fiscal year. “The insurance scheme will be restructured to absorb all health-related support programmes, ensuring its long-term sustainability,” President Paudel said.
To improve accessibility and equity in healthcare, the government also aims to expand medical infrastructure and address existing imbalances between healthcare providers, medical personnel, and service demand.
