Converging or Diverging Paths: A Comparative Study of Korean and Nepalese Labor Relations

Purpose: This paper aims to explore why Nepal remains an exception to the global trend of converging labor relations in the post-globalization era. Despite increasing technological advancement, global integration and firm-level competition, Nepal maintains traditional, politicized labor practices. A structured comparison with South Korea, a country that has undergone notable labor reform, helps illuminate this divergence. Methodology: Using a cross-national qualitative comparative framework, this study examines the strategic and institutional differences in policy-related indicators of labor relations in Nepal and South Korea. Data sources include country-specific labor statistics, union structures, and relevant secondary literature. Results: The analysis reveals that South Korea has experienced significant institutional convergence and labor market flexibility through reforms. In contrast, Nepal continues to exhibit deep-rooted politicized unionism and traditional employment relations, resisting broader global convergence trends. Conclusion: The findings suggest that Nepal's resistance to global convergence in labor relations is largely influenced by its domestic political economy and institutional inertia, highlighting the importance of internal structural and political factors in shaping national labor systems. Nepal is swimming upstream against global trends, and we hope concerned authorities take notice for policy intervention.