Kathmandu, January 17:

At an interaction at Reporters’ Club here today, Minister for Labour and Transport Management Lekh Raj Bhatta said that sending workers abroad for employment was a compulsion as employment opportunities in the country are not sufficient created in the country. Data reveals that 656 Nepalis leave for various destinations daily in search of greener pastures due to lack of job opportunities back home.

“Foreign employment may be an alternative but not long term solution as the development of the country depends on the creation of more jobs at home,” he said adding that in such a situation the young generation is compelled to go abroad as migrant workers.

He pointed out that manpower companies should be mindful of the financial and physical security of the workers they send abroad. “News of deaths of Nepali workers has been regular in recent days,” he said adding that the manpower companies and embassies should be more responsible. “There are 518 Nepali women in Tihar jail of India due to fraudulent manpower agencies,” he said.

Bhatta also criticised the Nepali embassies abroad. “Though some embassies are performing well, others are reluctant to resolve Nepali migrant workers’ woes,” he added.

The minister said the problem could be solved if Labour Attaches were appointed in the embassies. But even after the cabinet go-ahead two weeks ago to appoint Labour Attaches in embassies in Qatar, Saudi Arab, Malaysia and Dubai where there is high concentration of Nepali migrant labourers, the attaches are yet to posted there, it could not be implemented. “The ministry will send all four Labour Attaches within two weeks,” he promised.

Nepali labourers find Gulf countries more attractive but due to global financial crisis some of the big contractors in Gulf countries have stopped taking new employees. Israel is yet another lucrative but troubled destination.

Apart from that, Japan is being seen as a new lucrative destination for Nepali migrant workers. “The government has given the responsibility of sending Nepalis to Japan to the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI).” he said.

On December 3, 2003, FNCCI and Japan International Training Cooperation Organisation (JITCO) had signed a preliminary agreement on sending Nepali migrant workers to Japan. But even after almost five years, not a single Nepali worker has gone to Japan. Japan has started taking foreign workers in agriculture, construction, food processing, fishery, electronics and garments sectors from 14 countries. Bangladesh is the 14th country it has entered into an agreement.

On the occasion, some Japanese employers said that they were willing to take Nepali workers if the government permits. According to available data, between 1992 to 2003 — a 12-year duration — 2,202 Nepalis went to Japan.