Malaysia, the second largest overseas destination for Nepali workers, had shut the door to migrant workers in the service sector and manufacturing two months ago, citing rising unemployment in the country due to the global financial meltdown. More than 90 percent of the 300,000 Nepalis working there are employed in those sectors.
As it is feared that Malaysia´s move will hit the figures for outbound workers, a Nepali delegation led by the labor ministry secretary is leaving for Malaysia, Bangladesh and the Philippines on Sunday to seek ways to keep the foreign employment sector unaffected.
“We cannot request the Malaysian government to accept Nepali workers in sectors it has closed for all foreign workers. However, we will request Malaysian authorities to give high priority to Nepali workers in the construction and agriculture sectors,” labor ministry secretary Yub Raj Pandey told myrepublica.com.
The team, during its 10-day visit, will also request Malaysia not to lay off Nepali workers in the service and manufacturing sectors before completion of their job contracts.
“Besides exploring alternative job opportunities for Nepali youths, we will also seek ways to ensure the rights of Nepali workers in Malaysia during our meeting with Malaysian officials,” stated Pandey.
In the Philippines and Bangladesh, however, the Nepali delegation will share experience in foreign employment. The Philippines and Bangladesh are two major source countries for labor in Asia.
The fresh attempt by the government follows the realization that the global economic slowdown, and slowdown in the employer countries in particular, could damage prospects for Nepali workers and affect the economy as a whole.
Amid deepening global slowdown, the number of Nepalis leaving for overseas jobs has nosedive by 9.7 percent between mid-February and mid- March 2009, as compared to the previous month.
During the period, 16,868 Nepalis left for work overseas, whereas a month ago, the number was 18,715.
Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank, stated that although Nepal received over Rs 109 billion in remittances from its workers during the first seven months of 2008/09, the rate of remittance growth decelerated in the 7th month.
prabhakar@myrepublica.com
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