Minister Yadav pledges practical policy for foreign migrant workers

Kathmandu, July 24: Minister for Youth, Labour and Employment, Ramji Yadav, has pledged that practical policies would be implemented in the foreign employment sector by addressing the existing policies.

During his address to ‘Fifth Nepal Forum on Migration and Development’ jointly organised by the Ministry of Youth, Labour, and Employment and the International Migration Organisation here Friday, the Minister said, “The provision for the free visa free ticket’ implemented by the government in 2015 has now been limited to only papers and the implementation of such provision will be reviewed through a pragmatic approach.”

As he informed, foreign employment recruitment procedures would be made further transparent, accountable and predictable by taking it into a fully digitalized system through an amendment to the Foreign Employment Act-2064 BS. 

IOM Representative and Chief of Mission for Nepal, Helene Fors, said that Nepal had demonstrated an exemplary role in the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular immigration. “Nepal has shown a strong leadership by translating its commitment to the National Action Plan on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration into action,” she said, expressing commitment to continue working closely with the Nepal government and IOM Nepal to this end.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has launched on online platform ‘ujuri.dofe’ to address grievances of the migrant workers through the Department of Employment.

At the programme, Minister Yadav shared about the obligatory condition forcing foreign migrant workers to take a loan at a high rate of interest, sell land,or keep a mortgage of jewelries of their spouses.

According to a study based at Tribhuvan University Airport (TIA), many migrant workers are reluctant to open up about the actual fees they paid to secure overseas employment out of fear of losing their jobs as its consequence. It is estimated that only about seven percent of Nepali workers for abroad employment are recruited ethically (free of charge).

According to the Minister, the government’s ultimate goal is to fully ensure a 100 percent ’employer pay’ (employer pays the cost) modality. He said that a strategy would be implemented to prevent unhealthy competition among recruitment agencies and encourage direct recruitment processes for the same.

Stating that Nepal alone cannot address the issues of foreign employment, the Minister said that the government was ready to learn from good practices of countries like the Philippines and collaborate with stakeholders. He also expressed his commitment to implementing the practical submissions coming from the conference.

Issues ranging from quality of immigration to ethical recruitment to future plans were discussed at the programme.