Gopal Ghimire

The flood may disappear from the headlines. Its impact on workers will remain

On 26 August 2026, the mountains reminded Nepal of something we often forget: nature can change the course of people’s lives in a matter of hours. A devastating flood and debris flow swept through the Bhote Koshi–Trishuli corridor, taking lives, damaging homes and infrastructure, disrupting businesses and leaving thousands of families facing an uncertain future. Yet, behind every damaged bridge, destroyed business and broken road, there is a human story. There is a worker who may have lost a job, a family that has lost its income, or a community whose economic life has suddenly come to a standstill. That is why this disaster should not be seen only as a natural disaster. It is also a workers’ crisis—and a warning about the future we are entering.

When Work Disappears Overnight

For many workers, a workplace is more than a physical building. It is the source of food, education, housing and hope for their families. When transport is disrupted, tourism stops, construction is delayed, hydropower projects are damaged and local businesses close, the effects quickly reach workers. This directly affects workers’ employment and income.

Therefore, disaster management is not only about rebuilding roads and bridges. Restoring people’s livelihoods is equally important. Workers need income security, safe workplaces, access to social protection and opportunities to return to decent work as quickly as possible.

This is where trade unions have an important role to play

Trade unions are not only organizations that negotiate wages and working conditions. They are also institutions that represent workers when crises threaten their livelihoods. During disasters and recovery, unions can help identify affected workers, communicate their needs to government and employers, facilitate access to social protection and employment services, and ensure that workers’ rights are respected during reconstruction. Most importantly, workers should not be treated merely as beneficiaries of disaster response. They should be recognized as rights-holders and active participants in rebuilding their communities.

The Climate Question

This disaster has also brought us to another important question: How safe is Nepal in the face of a changing climate?Climate change does not provide a simple explanation for every flood or landslide. Mountain disasters are influenced by many factors, including geology, rainfall, ice and snow conditions, land use, settlement patterns, and infrastructure.

However, a warming climate is changing the conditions in which these hazards occur and can increase risks in fragile mountain environments. For Nepal, therefore, climate adaptation is no longer only an environmental issue. It is also a question of employment, labour rights, social protection, economic security, and our collective future. Workers in sectors such as transport, tourism, construction, agriculture, hydropower, and the informal economy can be particularly exposed when climate-related disasters disrupt economic activity. This means that climate policies must also consider the world of work.

Just Transition Must Begin Here

The idea of a Just Transition is often discussed in terms of moving towards a greener economy. But for workers, it has a much more practical meaning: What happens to me and my family when the economy changes, when a disaster destroys my workplace, or when the work I depend on is no longer viable? Nepal’s recovery from this disaster provides an opportunity to put that principle into practice. Reconstruction should create decent and safe employment, strengthen workers’ skills, expand social protection and promote climate-resilient infrastructure. It should also create opportunities for workers who have lost employment to acquire new skills or upgrade their existing skills. Trade unions can contribute by advocating for workers’ participation in reconstruction planning, promoting skills development, strengthening social protection measures, and engaging government, employers, and other stakeholders in social dialogue.

A transition cannot be called “just” if workers are expected to carry its costs without having a voice in shaping its future.

From Disaster to a Different Future

The 26 August disaster should become more than another entry in Nepal’s disaster statistics. It should encourage us to rethink how we build, where we build, how we protect workers, and how we prepare communities for a changing climate. The reconstruction process can become an opportunity to build stronger systems of social protection, safer workplaces, better skills, resilient infrastructure, and more inclusive local economies. But this will require coordination among government, employers, workers’ organizations, local communities, and other stakeholders.

Trade unions have a particular responsibility in this process: to remain connected with affected workers, document their concerns, advocate for their rights, and ensure that recovery and reconstruction do not leave workers behind.

Build back stronger—but also build back fairer

The goal now should not simply be to rebuild things “as they were.”The goal should be to build back safer, stronger, more resilient, and fairer than before.The success of recovery should not be measured only by how quickly roads reopen or how rapidly infrastructure is reconstructed.

It should also be measured by whether workers regain their livelihoods; whether families regain economic security; whether affected workers can access social protection; whether reconstruction creates decent and safe jobs; whether workers receive opportunities for skills development; whether workplaces and infrastructure become more climate-resilient and whether workers and their organizations have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their future.

The Himalayas have given us a warning

The Himalayas have once again reminded us that the future cannot be taken for granted. Our responsibility now is not simply to rebuild what was destroyed. It is to build a future in which workers are protected, communities are resilient, and no one is left behind. The flood may eventually disappear from the headlines. But for workers who have lost their jobs, homes, income, or sense of security, its impact will continue long after the news cycle has moved on.

That is why the response must look beyond immediate relief and reconstruction.