Address Migrants' Woes

Widespread unemployment, lack of economic opportunities, and an unequal distribution of resources have compelled Nepali youth to migrate to foreign countries. Every day, hundreds of Nepalis go abroad in the pursuit of better job prospects. Both highly skilled and unskilled Nepalis are leaving the country at an alarming rate every day. For countries like ours, foreign employment creates significant economic opportunities while contributing to national development through the steady flow of remittances. However, we cannot overlook the fact that many migrants face unsafe working conditions and exploitation. A few of them even die while working in harsh conditions. Due to the inefficiency of the monitoring and regulatory bodies and corrupt employees in the country, many of the migrant workers have to pay a huge sum to go overseas as migrant workers.

There should be a strong coordination between governments and G2G to ensure a zero-cost-recruitment policy. Bilateral labour agreements are very important to protect labourers from getting exploited and from unsafe working conditions and abuse. Every day, bodies of Nepali migrant workers arrived home in coffins. We also often come across the news of women migrant labourers facing sexual violence. It is because the migrant workers fly overseas without obtaining skill training and acquiring knowledge of the destination countries.  Orientation training before the departure is a must for the migrant workers to make them aware of their rights, the destination country law and where to contact when they face difficulties. The G2G recruitment system can be a strong measure to eliminate middlemen and ensure transparency. Manpower companies often fleece prospective migrant workers, but the concerned authorities turn a deaf ear to this fact. 

Likewise, the reintegration and social security of migrant workers is also equally important. It is very important to provide vocational training, loans to start a business or small industries to earn a livelihood. Likewise, social reintegration is also equally important, as it becomes difficult to connect to society after family separation and stress and trauma for a long time. They should also have access to social security for a sustainable livelihood. 

Addressing the 18th anniversary of the Foreign Employment Board, Prime Minister Sushila Karki the other day stressed that the government has adopted a policy encouraging investment of property, skills, technology and experience gained abroad into the productive area of Nepal. In the lack of a policy to capitalise on the experience and skills of migrant workers, their skills often go untapped in the country. It eventually leads to the loss of productivity and knowledge transfer. It negatively hampers both workers and the country. Likewise, there is widespread brain drain in the country; our best minds are languishing in foreign countries. We can create policies and an environment for their return, which will support the country's resolve to attain prosperity.  

As per a news report published in this daily, the Board has currently implemented 13 major programmes targeting the migrant workers who face various challenges while working abroad. It also asserts that it has given free skill development training to people and has been providing help services to the injured migrant workers. The government and its agencies always assert that it is working for the betterment of their migrant workers, but tangible changes have not yet been visible. So, the government should work in a way, workers benefit from its schemes aimed at bringing about change to their lives.