NHRC asks relevant agencies for compensation to workers who were sent back by TIA Immigration Office

Published On: July 19, 2023 05:30 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, July 19: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the agencies concerned to pay compensation to the migrant Nepali workers who were stopped by the TIA Immigration Office while going for foreign employment. Citing the financial losses incurred by the workers, the NHRC has objected to the ban imposed by the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) Immigration Office on youths who have taken institutional labor permits for foreign employment.

The NHRC issued a statement on Wednesday saying that the human rights of 156 Nepali citizens who were about to leave for Kuwait and Jordan for foreign employment were violated as they were stopped by the team of TIA Immigration Office.

From July 9, 2023, the officials of the TIA Immigration Office sent back the workers who were scheduled to fly to Kuwait and Jordan for foreign employment with institutional labor permits.

According to the statement released by Shyambabu Kafle, the under secretary and assistant spokesperson for the NHRC, it is clear that the rights of migrant workers have been hindered because the responsible agencies involved have been publicly accused of not being sensitive towards safeguarding the rights of the workers.

The statement issued by the NHRC states, “During the initial monitoring by the NHRC, it has been seen that the exact reason for the return of Nepali citizens who are about to leave for foreign employment has not been brought to light and due to the lack of coordination, cooperation, information exchange and credibility between the labor administration and the immigration administration, their right to decent employment has been violated. The NHRC draws the attention of the relevant agencies to be serious about service delivery and such related issues."

The NHRC has suggested the agencies concerned to be sensitive to the rights of migrant workers and coordinate effectively among the agencies responsible for foreign employment management.