International Migrants Day being observed today

KATHMANDU: Today is Dec 18 or the International Migrants Day.

The day is being observed across the globe today to commemorate the adoption of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families by the United Nations General Assembly in 1990.

The day gives a special opportunity to shine a spotlight on the invaluable contributions of millions of migrants around the world. It’s also a day to highlight the increasingly complex environment in which migration occurs.

Conflicts, climate-related disasters and economic pressures continue to drive millions of people from their homes in search of safety or simply opportunity.

The day is being celebrated globally to raise awareness about the challenges and opportunities of migration at the call of the United Nations and to recognize the contribution of immigrants from all over the world.

On the occasion of the day, a week-long program has been organized in Nepal with the theme ‘Employment with Information and Skills; Basis of Safe Migration’.

Today, immigration has become an integral part of society. Among the various reasons for this believably are poverty, war, internal conflict and insecurity, adverse effects of climate change, search for work and employment, globalization and rapid development of information and communication technology.

According to the World Migration Report 2024 published by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), an estimated 281 million people are migrants worldwide. Among them 169 million are migrant workers.

Foreign employment has played an important role for circular economy of Nepal. The government has devised a policy intended to optimally mobilize the capital, technology, skills and experience earned from foreign employment by making the labor force – the backbone of the economy productive and competitive.

According to the policy and programme for the fiscal year 2081÷82 BS, foreign employment related laws will be amended, employment with skills will be ensured and free orientation training will be conducted to make foreign employment safe and dignified.

Besides labor agreement review, pacts with more destination countries, encouraging the citizens who want to go for foreign employment to open free bank accounts and bring remittance s to the country through the same account, and implementing ‘Return Entrepreneurship Program’.

Last fiscal year 2080÷81

Also the policy has laid emphasis on reviewing the labor agreement, exploring labor agreements with more destination countries, encouraging the citizens in overseas employment to open free bank accounts and bring remittance to the country through the same account, and implementing ‘Return Entrepreneurship Program’.

Nepal’s remittance inflow increased by 16.5 percent to Rs 1,445.32 billion in the fiscal year 2080÷81 as compared to the previous fiscal year.

In the fiscal year 2080÷81, a total of 741,297 workers, including 80,172 women, went for foreign employment after obtaining labour permit (including re-labour permit) from the Department of Foreign Employment.

The remittances sent by the immigrant workers have greatly helped manage household operations, improve human capital index and reduce economic risk of families living in poverty.

Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Mukunda Prasad Niraula said the day is being celebrated with the aim of raising awareness among the stakeholders for safe and dignified foreign employment.

Stating that the government was constantly putting efforts to make labour migration safe, dignified and systematic, he said priority had been given to the protection of workers’ rights, skill development and rehabilitation of the returnee migrant workers.

Nepal has been playing an important and leading role in the implementation of bilateral labour agreements, review of labour laws, active participation in international labour related groups and programmes ranging from pre-departure to resettlement, he said.

Secretary Niraula expressed commitment to continue necessary cooperation and coordination with the destination countries to ensure workers’ rights and decent migration.