KATHMANDU: Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Gokarna Bista, has urged international organisations to make their role more effective to get the provision -- of sending labourers on foreign employment at zero investment -- implemented in labour supplying countries.

Minister Bista said this during a meeting with the International Organization for Migration (IOM)'s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Dr Maria Nenette Motus, on Wednesday. The IOM official had paid a courtesy call on the Labour Minister at his office in Singha Durbar.

On the occasion, Minister Bista said that workers were facing many difficulties due to unhealthy competition in the labour supply. He urged the IOM to work with determination to ensure implementation, in letter and spirit, of the provision wherein employers would themselves bear all expenses of sending labourers on foreign employment.

Stating there was a need for minimum standard for systematising the labour recruiting process, Minister Bista suggested that IOM could play a significant role in formulating such standards. He also suggested the formulation of a long-term strategy for labour migration.

IOM regional director Motus appreciated the role of Government of Nepal in making the labour migration safe, systematic and dignified, the Ministry of Labour stated today.