Migrant workers are not labourers but partners in progress: Minister Bhandari

Kathmandu, June 25

Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Sarat Singh Bhandari, has called for a paradigm shift to recognise migrant workers not just as labourers but as partners in progress.

Speaking at the opening session of the Asia-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Dialogue in the Capital on Wednesday, he stressed the need to implement the 23 objectives of the Global Compact for Migration (GCM), highlighting that millions of Nepali workers have contributed significantly to the development of GCC countries.

He called for enhanced regional cooperation to ensure safe, orderly, and dignified labour migration while urging all partner countries to strengthen collaboration for the effective implementation of regular migration frameworks.

Emphasising shared responsibility, he described the dialogue as a vital platform to promote a common vision grounded in human dignity and rights. He said that such dialogues for building mutual understanding between labour-sending and receiving countries, the Minister's secretariat informed in a statement.

Minister Bhandari added that the government is expanding access to social protection and has adopted policies to provide pensions and reintegration support for returnees.

"The government is adopting a zero-tolerance approach to fraud, debt bondage, and digital exploitation in foreign employment," he stated and proposed the formation of a joint Asia-GCC task force to harmonise migration policies and curb malpractice.

He also announced the extension of the Safe Migration Programme to all 77 districts in Nepal, reaffirming the government’s commitment to better implementation.

Minister Bhandari outlined three actionable proposals - forming a joint Asia-GCC migration task force for coordination on recruitment, wages, and rights protection, launching a skills and data initiative to match GCC labour demands with certified competencies, and establishing an annual dialogue mechanism to address emerging challenges, such as the situation of female migrants and the impact of technology.

He also suggested learning from successful reintegration models from South Korea, Switzerland, Bangladesh, and India, and proposed establishing a joint reintegration fund with GCC nations to support returnees in productive sectors.

Speaking at the event, Labour Secretary Dr. Krishna Hari Pushkar stressed the importance of implementing the Global Compact for Migration in light of emerging regional challenges, including the Iran-Israel conflict.

He said that migration should be seen not as a necessity but as a choice, contributing to sustainable development, decent work, and reduced inequality.

Dr. Pushkar noted that over 1.5 million Nepali workers in the Gulf region contribute remittance equivalent to 25 per cent to Nepal’s GDP, underlining the centrality of remittances to the national economy. He called for evidence-based policy dialogue, mutual recognition of skills, and robust grievance mechanisms for migrant workers.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 June 2025.