Kathmandu, June 14
Nepal and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed
an understanding to automatically renew the bilateral labour agreement for the
next four years.
The third meeting of Nepal-UAE Joint Working Committee
(JWC) held in Kathmandu on Wednesday reviewed the implementation of the
bilateral labour agreement as agreed upon in the second meeting of the
committee, and decided to renew it.
The meeting was hosted by the Ministry of Labour,
Employment and Social Security (MoLESS) of Nepal and its delegation was led by
Joint Secretary of the ministry, Rajiv Pokharel. The UAE delegation was led by
its Assistant Under Secretary, Abdulla Alnuaimi.
According to a statement issued by the MoLESS, Nepal
proposed to review the bilateral agreements between the two countries, ensure
minimum wages for Nepali workers in the UAE, make arrangements to bring the
dead bodies of Nepali workers easily, provide details of Nepali workers in
jails and prisons in the gulf country and facilitate their return to Nepal with
amnesty.
It also sought support for the skill enhancement of Nepali
workers in the UAE. Nepali delegation informed the visiting guests about the
latest legal provisions in Nepal the areas of labour and foreign employment.
Likewise, Alnuaimi informed about the labour market
situation in the UAE and said that the country is positive to address the
issues put forward by Nepal. He said that the UAE is willing to take domestic
workers from Nepal and asked to take the process forward.
Speaking on the occasion, Kewal Prasad Bhandari,
Secretary of the MoLESS, said that the role of both governments is significant
in making foreign employment safe, orderly and dignified. He emphasized that
mutual cooperation between the two governments should be increased to make the
recruitment process of foreign employment fair and dignified.
The UAE is one of the major labour destinations for
Nepali youth. In the Fiscal Year 2021/22, total number of Nepalis going to the
UAE was 53,844 without reentry and 122,635 with reentry. That year, a total of
630,090 Nepalis (including reentry) went to the UAE in search of work.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 15 June 2023.
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