Foreign Secretary Arjun Bahadur Thapa, a member of the Nepalese delegation to the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly, participated in the High-Level Dialogue on Migration and Development on Friday. 

Stating that there exists a close nexus between migration and development, he emphasised the need to address this important issue more effectively and introduce it into the mainstream process, particularly in the context of attainment of the MDGs and framing of the post-2015 development agenda, according to Nepal’s Permanent Mission to New York. 

Thapa stressed that the migration process should be made regular, managed, transparent and accountable so as to bring a situation of mutual gain for both the origin and destination countries. 

The protection of basic rights for the most vulnerable section of migrant workers, especially the low-skilled workers, women and girls in the destination countries must therefore receive increased attention, he added. 

He said that the more effective mechanisms of cooperation and collaboration among the sending, transit and receiving countries at the bilateral, regional and global levels are necessary to protect the rights of the workers and to take into account their contribution to development.

Stating that the circular migration of youths to southern destinations plays an important role in the economy of Nepal, he highlighted that the safety and security of the workers at all stages of the migration process were crucial. 

He added that it must be ensured that the basic standards of decent work, regular market-based pay, and the surveillance of health standards at work also needs to be observed. Emphasising the importance of labour migration and remittance to Nepal, he said that lowering the cost of recruitment and transfer of remittance provides a great respite to the workers, and a higher realisation of remittance proceeds to the poor, needy countries.

He concluded that in order to realise an inclusive, sustainable and people-focused development approach envisaged in the post-2015 development framework, international migration and its contribution to the development of the origin and destination countries must receive adequate attention.

 Published on: 5 October 2013 | The Kathmandu Post