Kathmandu, February 22:

The government has started levying Rs 500 from each migrant worker as a contribution to the Foreign Employment Welfare Fund that is to be used for the benefits of themselves and their families.

Based on the provision in the Foreign Employment Act-2007, a minister level meeting last week decided to levy Rs 500 from each worker for the fund, said Keshar Bahadur Baniya, director general at the department of labour and employment promotion (DoLEP). The government has included the provision in response to the growing cases of death, job displacements, deportation and industrial accidents of Nepali workers abroad. The Nepali migrants have had to endure all kinds of problems in foreign lands for lack of money.

Though the new Act has mandated Foreign Employment Promotion Board (FEPB) to collect the fee and execute the fund by developing a comprehensive package, DoLEP will levy money for a while until FEBP gets a full shape, Baniya said today.

The Act has included a provision for the creation of FEBP under the chairmanship of Labour Minister comprising representatives from various government agencies, private sector, independent experts and representatives of manpower recruiting agencies. The board is responsible for developing a comprehensive package for the utilisation of the fund for the benefits of migrant workers and their families.

According to Baniya, the workers are required to pay the sum through concerned manpower agency before getting the final approval, while in case of individuals-s/he has to deposit at DoLEP at the time of getting stamp on their work permit. All migrant workers, whether obtaining employment at his own or through a manpower-recruiting agency, has to contribute to the fund. He said that the fund would be used mainly to rescue workers caught in difficult situations, bring home dead bodies from different places and also to compensate for the families of deceased workers. “We have decided to give Rs 1,00,000 for the members of the each deceased migrant worker now onwards from the fund,” Baniya informed.

Apart from supporting the migrants and their families, the government plans to mobilise it for various purposes including pre-departure orientation, public awareness and post job counselling for better utilisation of skills and money earned abroad.

The latest move comes at a time when the government has been criticised for its lackadaisical attitude towards the protection of its citizens who have been working in various parts of the world.

Currently, over two million Nepalis are estimated to be working or living abroad. Each day, more than 600 Nepali workers leave for jobs abroad through official channels.