'Returnee migrants' reintegration thru entrepreneurship'

Patan (Lalitpur), Dec 19: Minister for Labour, Employment, and Social Security, Sharat Singh Bhandari, has urged returnee migrants to utilize their skills and capital earned abroad for the development of the country.     

"You have certainly gained valuable skills and knowledge while working abroad. You have learned the importance of hard work, and the value of labour and time," he said, encouraging returnees to use their expertise to contribute to the nation's development.     

He was speaking at an event jointly organized by Paurakhi Nepal and the National Women’s Commission (NWC) on the occasion of the International Migrants Day.     

Minister Bhandari stressed the need to create an enabling environment where aspiring migrants can learn the languages and skills of their destination countries before departure.     

NWC Chair Kamala Kumari Parajuli stated that foreign employment is often a compulsion driven by circumstances. She called for accessible channels to support women aspiring to work as domestic workers abroad. Parajuli also called for the dignity of all workers, including domestic helps, and stressed the need for their inclusion in social security programs.     

Chiranjivi Baral, Chairperson of the National Network for Safe Migration, spoke about the challenges faced by returnee migrants in finding employment back home. These challenges include a lack of technical support, market management issues, and unfair pricing of products. He added that these barriers hinder returnees' efforts to achieve self-sufficiency.     

The stakeholders urged the government to create policies that encourage foreign migrant returnees to pursue entrepreneurship and overcome these challenges.     

International Migrants Day is observed on December 18 each year, advocating for improving the legal and practical rights of migrant workers. (RSS)