Migration experts have suggested the government to facilitate Nepali women in the migration process. They have asked the government to provide women with skill-based trainings and seed money to reduce illegal migration.

The government has set strict criteria for women migrant workers but women have been joining foreign jobs through illegal channels. About 60-70 Nepali women have been reaching Gulf countries every day through agents via New Delhi and Mumbai.

Skill-based trainings and seed money may help reduce the trend of illegal migration, said migration expert Dr Ganesh Gurung who was also the coordinator of the high-level foreign employment reform committee of the government.

“Skill-based training and soft loans to potential women migrant workers will help control illegal migration and reduce risks,“ he said.

Most of the women migrants who work as domestic help in Gulf countries have been found to be vulnerable to exploitation, abuse and at times even sexual abuse because of the absence of skills.

Similarly, soft loans for foreign employment may help reduce the stress.

Women migrant workers are termed illegal once they leave the house of the employer — who is also the sponsor under the Kafala system. Migrants, under the system, have no legal status except that of a bonded labour or 'modern slave' according to rights-based organisations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

About 22,000 Nepali women had joined foreign jobs last year.

According to the concept, the government will select outsourcing agencies to provide trainings. An outsourcing agency will only receive the training fee from the government after it is successful in providing a job to them.

Once the women get an offer from foreign job markets, the government will provide the service fee as soft loans from the Youth and Small Entrepreneurs Self-reliant Fund.