KATHMANDU; Papua New Guinea (PNG) — a country in the Asia-Pacific region — has shown interest in taking Nepali migrant workers. British Gorkha Overseas Services Pvt Ltd has got demands from the country for security guards and automobile mechanics.

The agency has applied to Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) for prior approval to send Nepali workers to Papua New Guinea as the country is not in the list of the government approved list of 107 destination countries to send the migrant workers.

“We have got an application from British Gorkha manpower and it is under consideration,” said Kashi Ram Marashini director at the department that has forwarded the file to Ministry of Labour and Transport Management (MoLTM) for processing as the country is a new destination.

The ministry has opened 107 countries for Nepali migrant workers till date. It has banned war-turn Iraq due to safety of Nepali migrant workers.

According to the department, British Gorkha Overseas Services has said that it has got the demand for five security guards and four vehicle mechanics that offer monthly salary of $1,000. “The benefit offered is the best among preferred destination countries and the department is positive in it,” he added.

South Korea and Israel are the most lucrative countries til date in terms of salary to Nepali migrant workers.

The Ministry of Labour and Transport Management has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affair (MoFA) and Foreign Employment Promotion Board (FEPB) on the perspectives of the destination. “We have written letters to MoFA and FEPB seeking their views on opening the new destination,” said Bishal Bhattrai, officer at the ministry.

MoLTM has asked MoFA to evaluate current socio-economic situations and safety of the migrant workers whereas FEPB has been asked to set service fee of outsourcing company. “The destination will be opened after getting approval from the MoFA and FEPB,” he said.

Papua New Guinea, a country rich in minerals and petroleum, has 6.69 million population divided in over 800 tribal groups. As per World Bank, its per capita income was $10,357 in 2008. Its economy depends on Palm oil, wood, gold, silver, copper, tourism and petroleum.