Orientation held to involve imigrant workers in social security scheme

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 19: With the aim of making the Nepalis working abroad participate in the social security scheme, a special orientation programme has been conducted jointly by the Non-Resident Nepali Association and the Social Security Fund.

Addressing the programme virtually, Minister for Labour Employment and Social Security Sharat Singh Bhandari emphasised that the social security scheme should be made a comprehensive participatory plan.

He said that it is important to explain the benefits of the scheme to everyone, including foreign workers.

He said that the plan had just started and it should be made worker-friendly in the real sense.

“As the work of the government is based on policy formulation, NRNA can cooperate with the government to connect directly with the workers. I urge them to move forward together,” he said.

He said that the role of NRN is important to make the social security scheme successful.

Minister Bhandari said that the government would start a special initiative to bring all Nepalis who have or have not received work permits under the legal framework.

Minister Bhandari said that for the safety of workers and the respect of their work, the government would proceed by communicating with the stakeholders and the governments of destination countries.

Secretary of the Ministry, Eaknarayan Aryal urged to join the plan and said that policy and government procedural works, including labour agreements with the destination countries had been started.

He said that the problems and complications that appear during the implementation of the procedure will be solved gradually.

Executive President of NRNA Dr. Badri KC thanked the Social Security Fund for starting a contribution-based social security programme so that foreign workers can get facilities, including pension as a reward for continuous efforts and cooperation.

He emphasised that employers should also be made to pay some amount of social security fund for the success of the scheme.

He said that although the initiation of the plan is positive, it needs to be modified.

KC said that NRNA would take the initiative to make the government's plan a success and play its role to make all the workers participate in the plan. Similarly, NRNA President Kul Acharya said that it was necessary to conduct a campaign to include all those who are employed abroad in the scheme, and for that, NRNA will cooperate directly with the government.

As the social security fund plan is not only the government's but also the agenda that NANA has been raising since 2011, he claimed that the dream of Nepali workers all over the world has been fulfilled and it is also a responsibility and duty to make the plan a success.

In the meeting, Kapilmani Gyawali, Executive Director of the Fund, explained the benefits of the security fund.

He said that they would use the banking channel with NRNA's network, including continuous programmes, online classes, and 24-hour call centre for orientation.

A special report prepared by the Fund was presented in the programme.

Nepali workers and other non-resident activists from different countries joined the programme, said the NRNA.