FM Dr. Rana directs missions to help make foreign employment dignified

 Kathmandu, Feb. 18

Reaffirming the government's commitment to making foreign employment safer, dignified, reliable and predictable, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has directed Nepal's diplomatic missions abroad to work to achieve this objective.

Speaking at a virtual meeting organised by the Embassy of Nepal in Oman on Wednesday, she highlighted the crucial role of Nepal's diplomatic missions in meeting that commitment and directed them to perform their duties with diligence, the Embassy informed in a statement.

The meeting was attended by Nepali ambassadors, acting consuls general, deputy chiefs of mission, labour counsellors, labour attachés, and other diplomatic officials from missions across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

FM Dr. Rana is currently in Oman to participate in the 8^th Indian Ocean Conference and bilateral meetings.

According to the statement, she stressed the need for all stakeholders to proactively identify and address the challenges faced by Nepali migrant workers. She also underscored the importance of ensuring long-term solutions to make the foreign employment sector more attractive.

"She instructed the missions to streamline their services, including demand letter verification, in line with the government's policy on digital governance, ensuring efficiency, transparency, cost-effectiveness and technological integration," read the statement.

FM Dr. Rana also emphasised the role of economic diplomacy in Nepal’s overall development, urging missions to actively promote trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges. She assured that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stood ready to address any obstacles that might arise in this regard.

The meeting included in-depth discussions on various issues, including the rescue and repatriation of Nepali domestic and migrant workers, insurance and compensation, shelter management, repatriation of deceased workers, challenges in service delivery and possible solutions.

Following the meeting, FM Dr. Rana interacted with representatives of Nepali community organisations in Oman, embassy volunteers, and community leaders. She reaffirmed the government's commitment to protect and promote the rights, welfare, and benefits of Nepali migrant workers.

Minister Dr. Rana is scheduled to return to Nepal on Thursday. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 19 February 2025.