The government has identified Japan as one of the most ´lucrative´ job destinations for aspirant Nepali migrant workers. Japan, a country which is facing acute problem of ageing, is sincerely willing to open up job opportunities for ´semi-skilled´ Nepalis to work in various sectors, according to government officials.

Under its new drive to identify new job destinations, the government said that opening up job opportunities in Japan can be a respite for thousands of Nepalis. 

Currently, Japanese firms hire Nepalis under Japan International Training Cooperation Organization (JITCO). 

Executive Director at Foreign Employment Promotion Board (FEPB) Raghu Raj Kafle informed that there are possibilities of sending many Nepalis to Japan as demand for workers in the East Asian country is very high. 

“Japanese officials have said that language won´t be a barrier for Nepalis to work there. Therefore, we just need to take a little initiation to have this vision materialized,” said Kafle. He, however, informed that the government faces the challenge of assuring the Japanese government that the Nepalis who enter Japan as workers don´t attempt to remain their forever. 

In a bid to study the possibilities of sending workers to new destination countries, the government has formed a nine-member committee. 

The committee will study the possibility of sending workers to at least five countries, including Australia, Canada, Taiwan and Spain. 

Speaking at a function organized in the capital on Sunday, coordinator of the committee Hari Lamsal said that identifying new job destinations is extremely important to uplift the work standard of Nepalis. He informed that the committee will set up a data bank soon to conduct a survey of manpower in Nepal.. 

While more than three million Nepalis are abroad for foreign employment, some 1,700 to 2,000 youths leave the country on daily basis mainly for Malaysia and Gulf countries. 

The Nepal government has opened 110 countries for foreign employment but has signed MoUs with only five countries-- Japan, South Korea, Qatar, UAE and Baharain. MoU with Malayasia, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait is in the pipeline.

Published on: 12 Jan 2015 | Republica