The International Day of Families was celebrated today by organising various programmes in the city. The slogan for the day this year is ‘Advancing Social Integration and Intergenerational Solidarity.’

Start Youth, a non-governmental organisation working for youth rights, today organised an interaction where condition of disintegrated migrant families and the role of government in controlling migration, protecting human rights of migrant workers and their families, fighting human trafficking and ending modern day slavery were discussed.

Addressing the programme, Rabi Dahal, president, Start Youth, said a large number of Nepali workers were migrating to various countries, which has led to disintegration of their families back home in Nepal. Therefore, there was a need to conduct a comprehensive study regarding migrant workers and the financial and social vulnerability of their families, Dahal said.

“Around five million Nepalis migrate to foreign land in search of greener pastures and 50 per cent of them are youth,” he said, adding, “Their families, especially women and children, are suffering from various problems.”

Dahal said migrant workers’ families have been subjected to sexual violence, domestic violence, rape, and are unable to bear the humiliation and societal pressure after the crime, and the victims often commit suicide. “The government must bring programmes to protect basic human needs of disintegrated families,” he said.

He added that the government should appeal for Temporary Protected Status to Nepali nationals residing in the United States of America.

Bishnu Karki, Executive Director, Youth Action Nepal said, “According to labour survey report 2008, every year 400,000 youth join labour market in the country and 1,000-1,500 youth have been leaving the country for foreign employment daily.” He said more than 2.6 million Nepali nationals were working in Gulf countries and as many Nepalis were going to foreign countries as migrant workers for which there is no documentation.

Karki blamed the government for failing to create employment opportunities in the country, which he said has resulted in mass exodus. Remittances from migrant workers has 23 per cent contribution to the GDP in Nepal but the government has done little to protect their families, Karki added.

Rajendra Thapa, Under Secretary, Nepal Law Commission, said the government did not have any clear employment policy. “Due to the lack of an employment policy, it is not possible to draft foreign employment act and regulations,” he said.

Seikha Chandtara, Chairperson, National Women’s Commission, said, “The government should send Nepali workers to foreign land only after conducting a thorough study of foreign acts and policies.”

Published on: 16 May 2013 | The Himalayan Times