Pawan Pandey

Nepali migrant workers have complained that they can't access websites in many countries which prevents them from being enrolled in the social security scheme started by the Nepal government.

Last month, the government formally expanded the contribution-based social security fund to include the migrant workers and self-employed persons living abroad.

Around 56,000 migrant workers have been enlisted in the fund so far, according to Bibek Panthee, spokesperson at the Social Security Fund Secretariat. “All of them have been enrolled while acquiring labour approvals before travelling for their foreign jobs,” said Panthee.

Migrant workers and labour migration researchers have questioned the rationale behind starting the scheme without adequate preparations.

They doubt if the authorities really intend to bring the workers under the social security net or collect workers’ hard-earned money for their own benefits.

“The social security fund’s website is not accessible in the UAE,” Sambhav Shrestha, a migrant worker, commented on a video on Kantipur TV’s Youtube channel two weeks ago.

The video, Sarokar, discussed the implementation and effectiveness of involving migrant workers in the scheme.

“How can the migrant workers in destination countries participate [in the scheme] through such a website?” Shrestha asked.

In the same video, Devraj Magar commented that though the plan was good for the future of migrant workers, it was not appropriate to enter the scheme until the Nepali politicians changed themselves for the better.

“As I see it, it is nothing but the politicians trying to earn for themselves,” said Magar. “How can we trust what such an unqualified government says?”

Similarly, Karun BK commented that he would not enlist in the scheme.

“They did not provide us employment, but now the corrupt ones are eyeing our earnings,” said BK.

“We can manage ourselves for our old age, so, why is the government having a headache,” commented Prakash Adhikari. “We will buy gold or plots of land for our old age…the government should open industries at home, if it can.”

Panthee, the spokesperson with the Social Security Fund Secretariat, admitted that the fund’s website was not accessible in foreign countries until a week ago.

“It was designed in that way because of security-related issues,” said Panthee. “The website has been made accessible to workers in seven countries–Malaysia, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Japan–since last week.”

Labour migration researcher Meena Poudel argued that the social security scheme was expanded to include the migrant workers without adequate homework.

“It is economic exploitation of migrant workers to make it mandatory for them to be enlisted in the social security scheme for getting new labour approval when they already have to deposit a certain amount for Foreign Employment Welfare Fund, besides an exorbitant amount in recruitment fees,” said Poudel.

“Is there a guarantee for them getting the security benefits for their contributions, once they stop working abroad or contributing?”

“It is unlikely to be effective as it has been brought in rather haphazardly, without proper analysis or institutional arrangement,” Poudel added.

Rameshwar Nepal, executive director of Equidem Research Nepal, a human rights and labour rights research organisation, said that though the contribution-based social security scheme was a much required initiative, it has so far failed in delivery to the formal private sector.

“Its effectiveness for the migrant workers is likely to be no different either,” said Nepal. “Even if the website is accessible in destination countries, how efficiently will the Nepali workers be able to navigate it?"

“A support mechanism is required to assist the workers who want to enrol in it,” said Nepal.

The scheme was said to be expanded to the informal sector workers in the country beginning mid-April this year, but it has been delayed, according to Panthee.

“The preparations have reached the final stages,” said Panthee. “It would be expanded to the informal sector workers within a month.”

In the beginning, workers from a particular sector such as construction, transportation or agriculture at a couple of local levels would be enlisted in the scheme.

“We plan to start it from a small sector and expand it further in the coming days,” Panthee added. “Discussions have been going on to finalise the modality for the identification of workers and the focused areas.”

Migrant workers or self-employed persons based abroad will have to contribute at least Rs2,002 monthly, equivalent to 21.33 percent of the minimum basic monthly salary fixed by the Nepal government for domestic industrial workers. The maximum amount they can pay into the scheme is three times the minimum basic salary.

While the minimum monthly salary determined by the government is Rs15,000, the minimum basic monthly salary is Rs9,385.

The guidelines for the informal sector workers and self-employed persons in the country envision offering financial security under four categories.

The first support scheme is for regular medical check-ups, health protection and maternity plans.

The second is support for accidents and disability. The third is support for the dependent family, and the last one is the old-age security plan.

Migrant workers and self-employed persons living abroad, however, will be entitled to receive three of the four benefits—except medical treatment, health protection and maternity coverage.

While 7.48 percent of the contribution made by migrant and self-employed workers abroad will be collected to cover accidents and disability cases as well as the dependent family plan, 13.25 percent will go for the old-age security plan, according to the guidelines.

Under the accidents and disability plan, the fund will bear yearly hospital expenses of up to Rs100,000.

In case of death, a sum of Rs25,000 will be provided to the family to carry out the funeral rites.

Those who sustain injuries and become unable to work for a temporary period will be eligible for a monthly benefit equal to Rs5,631, or 60 percent of their minimum basic salary–until they recover and rejoin work.

In case of permanent disability, the fund will pay the contributor a lifetime monthly pension.

Other financial assistance will be provided to the family through a pension plan for the widow or widower and an educational allowance, each amounting to Rs3,754, or 40 percent of the minimum basic salary of the contributor.

While the pension will be provided on a monthly basis for a lifetime, the educational allowances will be paid until the child reaches 18 years of age or continues to study until he or she completes 21 years of age.

Upon reaching 60 years of age, the contributor receives a lifetime pension on a monthly basis, according to the guideline.

Published on: 18 April 2023 | The Kathmandu Post