The National Network for Safe Immigration has urged political parties preparing manifestos targeting the House of Representatives elections to include clear policies and commitments regarding foreign employment.
What you should know
The National Network for Safe Migration (NNSM) has urged political parties to prioritize issues related to foreign employment in their manifestos.
The network has appealed through a press release to prioritize the protection of the rights of Nepali workers and their families involved in foreign employment.
The NNSM, an umbrella organization of non-governmental organizations working to protect the rights of Nepali workers and their families, has stated that a policy-level and coordinated approach is necessary to resolve the social, economic and legal challenges faced by workers during foreign employment.
Although many energetic and capable youth of Nepal are forced to go abroad for employment and are far from exercising political rights, the remittances they send have made a significant contribution to the country's economic development, the network has stated. There is data that remittances of Rs. 1723.27 billion were received in the fiscal year 2081/082 alone.
The network, referring to foreign employment as the backbone of Nepal's economy, stated that workers involved in this sector have faced various types of exploitation, risks and injustice during employment.
The network urges all political parties to include a clear policy and commitment related to foreign employment in their manifestos, targeting the House of Representatives elections scheduled for 21 Falgun.
In addition, the NNSM has also put forward a demand to amend the existing Foreign Employment Act to make it worker-friendly, to make the recruitment process fair and just, and to ensure that the burden of recruitment fees and immigration costs is not borne by the workers.
Similarly, it has emphasized that social security and reintegration programs should be effectively implemented for workers in foreign employment and their families, and that the knowledge and capital of workers who have returned from abroad should be utilized by developing the skills of workers.
The network has also urged that Nepali workers going to India for employment should be documented and included in insurance and welfare schemes, and that data related to foreign employment should be recorded systematically and in a multidimensional manner.
