KATHMANDU, Aug 22: The Nepali youths face a compulsion to go abroad due to the lack of employment in the country. Since the current policies have been unable to address the issues related to foreign employment, the government has been advised to introduce new ones.
A new policy is expected to address issues such as migrant workers seeking illegal routes to go abroad, being cheated in that course, facing physical and sexual violence, and even losing their lives. Several aspects of human trafficking and smuggling, too, need to be clarified through policies.
Labor expert Ganesh Gurung said that the government has been advised to introduce a comprehensive migration policy that addresses all stages of foreign employment, from leaving home for foreign employment to returning and reintegration. A committee has been formed under the coordination of Gurung for the purpose. This policy is also being developed to include Nepali workers going to India under social security coverage.
Although Nepali youth go to neighboring India for labor, the government does not keep any record of such workers. In response to this issue, the committee has prepared various draft proposals and submitted them to Minister for Labor, Employment, and Social Security, Sharat Singh Bhandari.
The draft includes short-term and long-term recommendations to address the issues. It also covers topics such as zero-cost foreign employment and the restructuring of the Foreign Employment Board. Additionally, there are suggestions to utilize the skills of returning workers within the country.
Experts advise Nepal to have a clear, proactive foreign policy
The policy includes provisions to prevent discrimination against female workers and to ensure easy access in destination countries. Experts have emphasized the need to organize and advance the system, as foreign employment brings in more than four billion rupees in remittances daily, which significantly supports the country's economy.
The recommendations also include the need to address what actions the state should take and what strategies to adopt when there is conflict in destination countries. Due to the state's inability to implement proper policies, human trafficking is occurring through illegal routes to conflict-ridden countries in Europe and America. The existing foreign employment policy was prepared and made public in 2068 BS.
The report, which has been submitted to Labor Minister Bhandari, includes recommendations for a new policy, as the existing policy is deemed unable to address class-related issues effectively.
"The comprehensive migration policy is being introduced to address all stages, from leaving home for foreign employment to returning and reintegrating," the draft of the new policy states. "We currently do not have the capacity to establish new industries and provide employment to the available workforce within Nepal. It is necessary to develop an informed, skilled, competitive, and professional labor force according to the demands of the international labor market. The new policy aims to make labor migration more productive, promote employment and entrepreneurship within the country, and ultimately end the compulsion for labor migration," it reads.
The labor migration policy draft will only be finalized after receiving suggestions from stakeholders. Minister Bhandari stated while receiving the draft, "This policy will be completed only after receiving feedback from trade unions in Nepal, experts, and the Nepali community abroad."
The proposed policy aims to ensure information, services, and good governance in labor migration, eliminate the compulsion to migrate for labor due to the lack of employment opportunities within Nepal, and manage foreign workers employed in Nepal, among other goals.
Labor expert Gurung stated that the draft of the new migration policy has been prepared with the objective of making labor migration safe, organized, and dignified, as well as contributing to internal employment and prosperity. The team led by Gurung recently submitted the "Labor Migration Policy Draft – 2081" to Labor Minister Bhandari.
Gurung mentioned that some drafts submitted in this manner have been implemented. The draft has been posted on the labor ministry's website for 15 days. After receiving suggestions, it will be presented to the Cabinet for approval. Gurung said, "The government has planned to make the next decade a decade of employment. To address this, six policies, 24 strategies, and 113 action plans have been developed. Remittances have reduced Nepal's poverty rate from 42 percent to 30 percent. This policy is expected to contribute further to reducing it." The draft team includes Amrita Sharma, Keshav Basyal, Juna Mathema, Manju Gurung as members, and Deepak Dhakal as the member-secretary.
What is included in the draft of the new policy?
The policy draft mentions that the Foreign Employment Act 2007 and the Foreign Employment Regulations 2007 will be revised to make the labor migration process simpler, more transparent, and worker-friendly. It also notes that while developing and revising the labor migration policies and legal framework, the government will adopt a strategy that follows legal procedures and societal norms.
The draft also states that a strategy should be adopted to ensure that workers do not bear the costs associated with the labor migration process, which has been one of the most controversial issues for the past decade.
The draft includes provisions such as expanding and effectively implementing a system where employers bear the costs of labor migration, adopting a transparent and fair recruitment process, establishing standards with rewards and penalties for employers and service providers, along with creating an effective monitoring mechanism, including the employer-bearing cost system in bilateral labor agreements with destination countries, and making foreign employment businesses accountable to ensure a transparent, fair, and ethical recruitment process.
