Social security for migrant workers is fast becoming an emotional subject that can force the government to come out of its slumber and address to the agony and anguish of the biggest foreign exchange earner for the country. It is high time we started social security for migrant workers, said Dr Chiranjivi Nepal, an independent labour expert. “Migrants are saving the country (economy of the country), so we can’t ignore their economic security,” he said. According to Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), around 30 per cent of the country’s 5.6 million households depend on earnings from overseas jobs while contribution of remittance to gross domestic production (GDP) is 23.4 per cent. According to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), migrant workers have sent Rs 138.9 billion to Nepal in the first seven months of the current fiscal year.

The government should start skill trainings for overseas job aspirants and pension to returnees through a special arrangement.

We carried out a study on the possible welfare schemes for migrant workers last year but the government is reluctant to implement it, he said.

A UNIFEM-commissioned study submitted to Ministry of Labour and Transport Management (MoLTM) has suggested the government to provide social security to migrant workers. The suggestions include skill training to overseas job aspirants, self-reliance skills to returnees and pension to migrant workers contributing to Migrant Workers Welfare Fund (MWWF).

Around 3.5 million Nepalis are working overseas, mostly in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. Nepali migrants working in these countries are earning around $ 200 (Rs 14,000) a month.

Our prime destinations are least earning countries, so we must think on the social security for migrant workers, said Som Lal Bataju, president of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA).

“The government must lead on the issue,” he said. He assured NAFEA’s support to the drive whenever the government starts it.

The government has established Foreign Employment Promotion Board (FEPB) for the welfare of migrant workers in 2009.

But their activities are limited to providing compensation to migrant workers who die at work place and rescuing Nepali workers in difficult situations. FEPB spent Rs 50 million to rescue Nepalis from Libya in early this year.

We need a comprehensive social security scheme for migrant workers, said Sthaneshwor Devekota, executive director of the board.

“Social security to migrant workers is an urgent need in Nepali foreign employment sector,” he added.

“The government should take a step forward to safeguard the economic welfare of hard-working migrant workers because it has wide-ranging implications for the country,” he said.

Published on: 27 April 2011 | The Himalayan Times