'Govt implementing measures for rescue, relief and repatriation of Nepalis abroad'

Kathmandu, Aug. 18

Foreign Affairs Minister Shisir Khanal has said that the government is implementing effective initiatives for the rescue, relief and repatriation of Nepalis stranded abroad.

The government has allocated Rs. 150 million in the current Fiscal Year 2026/27 for the rescue, relief and repatriation of Nepali citizens stranded abroad. The 'Procedure for Administering the Budget Allocated for the Rescue, Relief and Repatriation of Nepali Citizens Stranded Abroad, 2083' prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) for administering the budget is awaiting approval from the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

Responding to the questions raised in Parliament by lawmaker Ashika Tamang regarding the delayed repatriation of the body of Santosh Rai, a permanent resident of Jugedi in Dhunibesi Municipality of Dhading district, who died while undergoing treatment in Cambodia, on Tuesday, he updated the House about the procedure.

According to FM Khanal, feeling the need for a separate source of funding for rescuing Nepali citizens stranded abroad, the MoF was requested to make budgetary arrangements. The procedure was sent to the MoF on Friday.

“Once it is approved by the MoF, the Foreign Ministry will implement it. The delay was not because we were reluctant or unwilling to prepare the procedure. As this is a serious matter, we had to give careful consideration to where and under what circumstances the funds should be used,” he said.

According to him, the procedure proposes a maximum expenditure of Rs. 1.2 million per person to repatriate a stranded citizen of dead body.

FM Khanal said the procedure also contains limited provisions for cases in which Nepali citizens fall ill and require medical treatment. Rescue and repatriation efforts would proceed in accordance with the procedure once it receives approval from the MoF.

Clarifying the issue raised by lawmaker Tamang in line with the Speaker’s ruling, Minister Khanal said the government had made the necessary financial arrangements for the rescue of Nepali citizens abroad and the repatriation of their bodies.

Santosh Rai had died while undergoing treatment at Calmette Hospital in Cambodia on 14 May 2026. His body is currently being kept at a hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The Nepali Embassy in Bangkok had informed the government that approximately US$1,000 would be required to bring the body back to Nepal, including outstanding medical and mortuary charges and airfare.

Likewise, Minister Khanal said the repatriation of bodies and rescue of Nepali citizens who travel abroad legally, particularly those who obtain labour approval, is comparatively straightforward because they are insured through the Department of Foreign Employment. However, he said the rescue of Nepali citizens who travel abroad through irregular channels presents legal and financial complications.

He said the government must also consider whether using public funds to rescue citizens who have travelled abroad after becoming involved in activities prohibited by the government or contrary to the law could encourage illegal activities.

“The government has two major responsibilities — one is to protect its citizens, and the other is to ensure that money legally paid by taxpayers is used appropriately,” Minister Khanal said. “There are circumstances in which people need to be rescued on humanitarian grounds, but we must also seriously consider whether legally acquired public funds should be used in a way that could encourage unlawful activities.”

According to FM Khanal, the bodies of around 160 Nepali citizens have been repatriated to Nepal in the past four months alone. He also said around 860 Nepali citizens who had travelled to Cambodia on visit visas and were working in scam centres had been rescued and brought back to Nepal over a period of several months.

 

Plan to construct buildings for missions abroad

FM Khanal informed the House that the government plans to reduce expenditure on rent by constructing embassy and residential buildings on land already owned by Nepal’s diplomatic missions abroad. He said the government plans to gradually construct buildings for missions that already have their own land.

Minister Khanal made the remarks while responding to questions raised by lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Monday about the failure to construct buildings for Nepali missions despite land having been purchased years ago, resulting in substantial expenditure on rent.

He also said that Nepali missions abroad should have buildings that reflect Nepal’s own identity and representation.

According to Minister Khanal, Rs. 1.39 billion was spent on rent for Nepali missions abroad last year. This represented around 17 per cent of the total budget allocated to the MoFA.

He said land had been purchased for Nepali missions and ambassador's residences in places including Islamabad, Riyadh, Colombo, Kuala Lumpur, Muscat, Canberra and Beijing, but the necessary buildings had not yet been constructed. He said the main reason for delays behind construction was the lack of clear legal provisions governing the construction of public buildings abroad.

The Minister said amendments to the Public Procurement Act 2063 had established provisions allowing Nepali embassies and missions abroad, as well as other public bodies with offices overseas, to prepare the necessary procedures, obtain approval from the Public Procurement Monitoring Office (PPMO) and implement them.

With the legal framework now in place, the MoFA has begun advancing the process of constructing buildings for missions that already own land. The process has been initiated for chancery and residential buildings in Australia, Saudi Arabia and Thailand.

According to FM Khanal, a consultant has already been appointed to undertake architectural and engineering work and prepare a cost estimate for the construction of the Nepali Embassy building in Canberra.

He said work was under way to prepare the terms of reference (ToR) required to select a consultant to carry out architectural, design and engineering work and prepare a cost estimate for the construction of the Nepali Embassy and residential building in Bangkok.

 

Local staff at Nepali missions abroad

Likewise, FM Khanal informed the House of Representatives that local staff are appointed at Nepali missions abroad in accordance with a directive formulated a decade ago for the same.

A total of 374 local employees are currently working at Nepali diplomatic missions abroad, including 185 Nepali citizens and 126 foreign nationals.

Lawmaker Nishcal Rai had sought the number of Nepali and foreign local employees working at Nepali missions abroad and the financial burden they impose on the state.

According to FM Khanal, locally available personnel are hired on contract to assist diplomatic staff with day-to-day administrative, consular and other duties at Nepali missions abroad. He said hiring local employees, rather than sending additional staff from Nepal, was more cost-effective while also making operations easier and being practical from administrative and diplomatic perspectives.

Minister Khanal also said Rs. 911.73 million was spent on salaries for local staff in the FY 2025/26. He claimed that the number of local employees at Nepali missions was significantly lower than in other countries with large diaspora similar to Nepal’s.

"The Nepali missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is home to around 700,000 Nepalis, have a combined total of only 10 local employees. But Philippine mission has 75 local employees," he said. 

Published in The Rising Nepal on 19 August 2026.   

EU to support Nepal for dignified migration

Kathmandu, Aug. 18:

Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Nepal Veronique Lorenzo paid a farewell call on Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal on Tuesday.

During the meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the they discussed Nepal-EU relations and various matters of mutual interest and concern.

During the meeting, Ambassador Lorenzo said the EU was interested in collaborating with Nepal on mountain and water-related agendas.

According to her, the EU planned to cooperate with Nepal in the areas of safe, orderly and dignified migration.

Likewise, FM Khanal said mountain-related issues were a priority for the Government of Nepal and informed her that the second edition of the Sagarmatha Dialogue would be held next year.

He requested detailed information for further study and consideration on cooperation on migration. He said safe and dignified migration was a priority for Nepal, and added that the government is serious about protecting the Nepali diaspora living abroad.

They also discussed the delay in Nepal’s graduation process from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category. Ambassador Lorenzo said the EU would provide support once Nepal presented a concrete action plan and the necessary details.

The meeting also covered the promotion of Nepali art, culture and civilisation, as well as openness and freedom of expression, the Minister's Secretariat informed in a statement. Ambassador Lorenzo requested the MoFA's support for a programme related to a Newa art exhibition. In response, Minister Khanal said the government would continue its support and commitment to promoting Nepal’s cultural heritage.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 19 August 2026.   

App launched to collect information from Nepalis working abroad

Kathmandu, June 26

The government has launched ‘Shram Sansar App’ in order to collect information and details of Nepalis residing in labour destination countries.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba and Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Sharat Singh Bhandari jointly inaugurated the app at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Thursday.

Through this app, Nepalis residing abroad can register their personal information, which will help Nepali missions abroad, as well as the MoFA and the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS) to access accurate information regarding the number, location, and condition of Nepalis in respective countries.

Once this data is obtained, it will be easier to provide necessary consular services in those countries and to promptly rescue individuals in times of crisis, the MoFA informed in a statement.

According to Minister Dr. Rana, many complaints have been received from Nepalis engaged in foreign employment who have faced fraud, hardship, and various problems due to a lack of information. She expressed confidence that the app would ease the process of providing consular support based on the collected data.

She also informed that a decision has been made to grant ‘regularised labour approval’ through Nepali embassies in destination countries to those working abroad without official labour permits. This will facilitate the process for such individuals.

“This arrangement is especially for those who have travelled to foreign countries without labour approval and are currently employed there. The provision aims to ensure their protection and safety through embassies. However, this should not be interpreted as an encouragement for illegal migration,” said FM Dr. Rana.

Likewise, she mentioned that the MoFA had earlier formed a task force to address the problems faced by the Nepali diaspora. With increasing issues being reported, particularly from labour destination countries, the app has been introduced to better understand the situation and concerns of Nepalis abroad.

Similarly, Labour Minister Bhandari said that the app and the provision for regularised labour approval would offer substantial relief in the foreign employment sector.

According to him, the app will not only help identify where and how many Nepalis are currently residing but also provide vital support to those who are undocumented, those who travelled without obtaining labour approval, and those who have been deprived of basic services due to various issues.

The app will be jointly operated by the MoFA and MoLESS, and will be updated through the respective Nepali embassies in each country.

However, it will be the responsibility of Nepalis in those countries to fill in their personal details on the app. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 27 June 2025.  

Asia-Gulf dialogue on safe migration concludes

 Kathmandu, June 26

The Asia-GCC dialogue on implementation of the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration (GCM) served as a preparatory platform for the 2026 International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), where global progress on migration commitments will be assessed, the organisers said.

Policy recommendations from the two-day dialogue that concluded on Thursday are said to contribute to the 2026 review. The event was co-hosted by Nepal's Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

The GCM provides a practical roadmap for aligning migration governance with national development priorities and global commitments under the 2030 Agenda, they said. Both the Government of Nepal and IOM reaffirmed their strong partnership in supporting safe, rights-based, and well-managed migration.

Representatives from Asian and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have convened in Kathmandu to discuss initiatives aimed at promoting regular and safe migration pathways.

The Asia-GCC corridor is a crucial global labour migration route, supporting economies in both regions, with over 25 million Asian migrants living and working in GCC countries. The dialogue underscored the importance of strengthening these pathways to protect migrant rights and leverage their skills for broader societal benefits, read a statement issued by the organisers.

Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Sarat Singh Bhandari, highlighted Nepal's role as a champion country in GCM implementation and its commitment to translating the compact's principles into actionable outcomes.

The conference discussed key GCM objectives, including developing regular migration pathways, promoting fair recruitment and decent work, advancing skills development and recognition, and enhancing migrant welfare and access to social protection.

Stuart Simpson, Deputy Regional Director for Operations, IOM Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, expressed hope that the event would facilitate in sharing of best practices to strengthen labour governance and address ongoing issues between the regions. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 27 June 2025. 

Nepal’s growth model needs urgent overhaul to meet development goals

 World Bank's Nepal Economic Memorandum 2025

 

Kathmandu, Mar. 24

The World Bank (WB) said that Nepal’s current growth model which is heavily reliant on remittances and consumption has proven resilient but insufficient to meet the country’s ambitious development targets.

"While remittances have buoyed private consumption and reduced poverty, they have not translated into substantial job creation or productivity gains across key economic sectors," the WB concluded in its recent report on Nepal country economic memorandum 2025 titled 'Unlocking Nepal's growth potential' launched in Kathmandu on Monday.

According to the multilateral donor, this model, coupled with structural limitations such as low export competitiveness, limited industrial output, and dependency on informal labour, constrains Nepal’s potential to achieve sustained, higher growth rates.

To break this cycle and enhance growth, significant policy reforms are essential to shift the economy toward more dynamic and sustainable drivers of growth, it suggested.

The five-yearly report concluded that Nepal has achieved remarkable success in poverty reduction, nearly eradicating extreme poverty, largely driven by remittances. To strengthen future growth, Nepal should prioritize policy actions that unlock domestic opportunities, it said.

Despite progress, Nepal’s economic growth lags regional peers. Nepal's economy grew at an average annual real rate of just 4.2 per cent between 1996 and 2023, ranking sixth out of eight South Asian nations.

According to the WB, structural challenges such as low productivity, declining exports, and a stagnant industrial sector have held back the economy and led to slow job creation in non-agriculture sectors. Young workers are migrating abroad in search of better job opportunities as domestic prospects remain limited.

“Nepal's success in poverty reduction is impressive, but its economic potential remains largely untapped,” said David Sislen, World Bank Division Country Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. “Nepal has significant potential to drive stronger growth and create jobs by implementing key reforms to increase the returns from migration, boost exports, use hydropower efficiently, and boost digitalisation.”

 

Conventional practices not sufficient

Speaking on the occasion, Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC), Prof. Dr. Shiva Raj Adhikari, said that conventional practices are not sufficient to achieve the rapid and sustained growth targets, adding the country needs to be innovative and implement sustainable development initiatives.

"The country also needs economic stability promoting equitable growth and striking balance between the lower rung in the society that benefits form the remittance and the upper class that spends it in foreign trips and education," he said.

According to Dr. Adhikari, improving labour policies and supporting migrant returnees with reintegration strategies are equally instrumental for the achievement of desired success.

 

WB recommendations

The Country Memorandum 2025 had suggested that integrating migration into national development, job creation, and poverty reduction strategies will provide a platform to work towards a systematic and institutionalised migration system. This is needed to enhance the returns from migration.

"Policies should focus on reducing the cost and increasing the benefits and safety for current low-skilled migrants, while also eyeing longer-term skill and destination diversification," it said.

According to the report, expanding and better implementing bilateral labour agreements will be critical. Initiatives promoting entrepreneurship and retraining and reskilling programmes would allow returning migrants to reintegrate into the domestic labour market.

Likewise, to improve export performance, market competition should be improved in key sectors and infrastructure deficits should be addressed.

Remedies include better managing inflationary pressures to address the erosion of exporters’ price competitiveness, and encouraging people to use remittances for investments and business growth to help ease inflation.

Similarly, to harness the potential in hydropower, there is a need to develop a clear financial strategy so that the sector could mobilise much-needed investments.  

"This strategy could include developing the domestic bond market and an effective framework for large-scale public-private partnerships," noted the report.

Strengthening the regulatory and legal frameworks, by reducing bureaucratic red tape and streamlining the current licensing process, would improve the structure of the electricity market and attract additional investment.

It has also recommended updating the Telecommunications Act and the digital strategy and adopting key digital infrastructure at the earliest in order to boost the development of the digital sector. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 March 2025.    

Mobile camps ease burdens of migrant workers, students abroad

Kathamandu, Mar. 22

Recent estimates from the national and international agencies have reckoned that about 4.5 million Nepalis are working abroad. In the last Fiscal Year 2023/24, they sent remittances worth Rs. 1445.32 billion.

This amount was more than the government spent from treasury – including the recurrent and capital expenditure and financing management – which, as reported by the Financial Comptroller General Office, stood at Rs. 1409 billion.

Just to put that in context, this is about Rs. 148 billion less than the country's total imports from the formal channel that year, and almost Rs. 5 billion more than the total trade deficit. Nepal imported goods worth Rs. 1592.98 billion and exported worth of Rs. 152.38 billion, according to the statistics of the Department of Customs.

Likewise, if the remittance data is compared with the national budget, it’s more than the total revenue estimates for the last fiscal. The government targeted to raise revenue of Rs. 1422.54 billion. But actual collection was Rs. 1030.5 billion.

This illustration demonstrates the contribution of Nepali migrant workers spread across the globe to the national economy. Nepal is at the 19^th position on the basis of amount received while it stands fourth as per remittance to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio.

Although tourism received high attention in national policies and programmes and economic dialogues in Nepal, total income made from tourism activities is not sufficient to cover Nepali's foreign education investment and trips made for recreation. This makes remittance a backbone of Nepali economy which has so far been reliable.

But labour migrants's contribution is yet to be taken seriously. Foreign employment is the sector where high corruption persists and illegal activities flourish right in front of the authorities. Nepali migrant workers have been continuously deceived by the manpower agencies and middlemen at multiple stages.

 

Service to facilitate Nepalis

While the state has been extending its arms to the migrant workers abroad only for rescuing and legal assistance, for the last four years, it is reaching out to them with additional services of providing passports and labour approvals at their locations.

The Department of Passport (DoP) has launched the mobile passport camps in various cities across the globe where the number of Nepalis is high. The Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) has also been extending its services for labour approvals and other labour related activities to the destination cities.

The DoP is organising such camps since 2021/22.

Such camps are organised in collaboration with the Embassy of Nepal in the respective countries, DoP and DoFE. Director General of the DoP, Tirtha Raj Aryal, said that it was the job of the embassy to make the assessment of the situation and coordinate with the respective departments in Nepal and manage the mobile camps in the cities of their jurisdiction.

Although it's a service-oriented programme, the country receives economic benefits as well. For example, while organising a mobile passport camp in Portugal, less than a million rupees were spent but from the same camp, revenue of Rs. 90 million was raised.

A 10-day camp could be organised with about Rs. 500,000 even in the European cities. Considering the number of people it could serve, this cost is nominal.

"This is a win-win situation for both the country and its citizens abroad. Had there not been a mobile passport camp, Nepalis in Portugal were required to come to the Nepali Embassy in Paris of France which would demand more time and expenses," said Aryal while stressing that it's not a programme to raise revenue but to extend service.

Likewise, Director of the DoFE, Updnera Raj Poudel, said that the camps' organisation is not only to facilitate Nepali citizens but also recognizing their contribution to the country and economy.

As much as 4,100 individuals have availed the service from a single mobile camp. According to the general rules and understandings, there needs to be at least 1000 enrolments for passports which is a business for 10 days for a mobile service team.

The team has to provide passports to at least 100 people.

Two additional staff are sufficient to manage such camps. However, understaffing at the embassies even in the countries where the number of Nepalis is high, creates challenges for the smooth service delivery.

 

Priority to mobile camps

The DoP has accorded priority to organising such camps this year. So far, 12 camps have been held while additional 39 are in the pipeline. The department has written to the Ministry of Finance for the budget required to manage the mobile camps.

Such camps are helpful in delivering prompt service related to passport as the Nepali embassies in the countries with high Nepali diaspora are struggling to provide the facility.

For example, the Embassy of Nepal in Abu Dhabi in the UAE issued 46,000 passports last year while it has already issued more than 30,000 passports in the first six months of this Fiscal Year 2024/25.

Such achievement was possible due to the organisation of mobile camps. The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) and Nepalese Society in the UAE are supporting the embassy in the drive.

On 22 February, the mission organised a mobile labour awareness, passport and consular camp in Fujairah which is 300 km away from Abu Dhabi. The camp renewed the passports of 216 Nepali citizens in and around the city while 300 people were sensitised on the labour laws of Nepal and the UAE.

About 600,000 Nepalis are currently working in the UAE.

Similarly, Embassy of Nepal in Ottawa, Canada organised two-day mobile consular camp in Surrey of British Columbia on 15-16 February.

The camp conducted with the support from the Hindu Buddhist Foundation of Canada, Nepal Cultural Society of British Columbia, and the NRNA benefitted Nepali nationals, particularly students in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta provinces of Canada. They received passport renewal and other consular services, the embassy had informed in a statement.

 

DoFE launches labour regularisation abroad

Meanwhile, the foreign labour regularisation permit was launched recently on 31 January this year by the Nepali Embassy in Muscat of Oman.

This first-ever foreign labour regularisation permit was organised in Salalah from 31 January to 1 February. The event also featured direct dialogue with the ambassador, interaction, worker awareness, financial literacy, affiliation with the Social Security Fund, and passport/consular services.

Nepali Ambassador to Oman, Dor Nath Aryal, expressed confidence that the labour regularisation permit service would provide convenience to the Nepali migrant workers in Oman.

According to a statement issued by the embassy then, Nepali workers in Salalah expressed their happiness over the services like passport renewal, labour regularisation permits, and various information services in Salalah, which is about 1100 kilometres away from Muscat.

In FY 2023/24, about 714,297 Nepalis obtained approval to work in foreign land which included 80,172 women and 661,125 men. Of this, only 732 are high-skilled 2,772 are professionals and 60,123 are semi-skilled.

The largest portion of migrant workers (532,123) obtaining first time or renewed labour approval for foreign countries are skilled, according to the statistics of the DoFE. A total of 145,547 are unskilled.

 

GCC remains top destination

Until some years ago, distribution of Nepali migrant workers was highly concentrated to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries and India. However, the number of Nepalis is steadily growing in the United States of America, Japan, South Korea, Australia, the United Kingdom, Romania and many other European countries.

According to Nepal Labour Migration Report, 2022, the highest number of new and renewed labour approvals were issued for Qatar, the United Aram Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Romania, Oman, Japan and Croatia.

In FY 2022/23, remittance inflow amounted to Rs. 1220.56 billion which increased by 23.2 per cent to touch Rs. 1445.32 billion last year. Remittance inflow, of late, has witnessed a massive increase – it was Rs. 1007.31 billion in 2021/22.

The DoP is planning to take the mobile camps to Romania, Poland, Malaysia and a couple of cities including San Francisco and Texas in the USA. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 23 March 2025.    

Nabil launches entrepreneurship loan targeting returning migrants

Kathmandu, Jan. 25

Nabil Bank has launched a special entrepreneurship loan product to support the returnee Nepali migrant workers in establishing and running business in the area they are proficient.

Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Sharat Singh Bhandari, and Chairman of the bank, Upendra Prasad Poudyal jointly launched the product - Nabil Skilled Migrant Entrepreneurship Loan - at a programme organised in Kathmandu on Thursday.

The loan is designed for income-generating activities or enterprise that offers flexible features such as loan limit up to Rs. 100 million for tenure of up to 10 years.

The bank said that it provides attractive interest rate for the product which is 1.50 per cent over base rate. In addition to that, there will be an efficient approval process of loan from minimum of 3 to 5 days to ease and facilitate returnee migrants.

"The bank believes that the loan scheme plays vital role in addressing the unique financial needs of returning immigrants, promoting entrepreneurship through their acquired knowledge and expertise. By actively participating in national development efforts, Nabil Bank aims to create an environment that nurtures returning migrants in pursuing their business goals and contributing to the country's economic growth," said the bank.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Bhandari said that foreign employment has become highly competitive but Nepali workers are less competitive in skill, technology and language.

He highlighted the government's initiative to curb brain drain and encouraged youths to return home and be part of positive change. He further emphasized that the government is working closely with the private sector to motivate more Nepali settled abroad to return home and start businesses.

Stating that Nabil Bank’s initiative in introducing such programme is praiseworthy, he said, “Financial support is the key support in establishing business and the commitment that Nabil Bank is making to providing easy, accessible and subsidized loan to returnee migrants will definitely help on the government’s drive to returning youths to home country.”

According to Minister Bhandari, returnees are more skilled and responsible in their economic and social dealings, and the country needed a system to certify their skill and opportunities to further enhancement of skills.

Kewal Prasad Bhandari, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS), said that various programmes are being implemented with the support from the destination countries like Japan and Korea to provide support to the returnee migrant.

"Most of the returnees need small financial support, our surveys have shown. So, they should be supported in the production, promotion and marketing their products," he said.

He also informed that the government is taking various initiatives to utilize the capital and skills of Nepalis who have returned to Nepal and Nabil’s product will further help them transform their skills into enterprise.

Likewise, Poudyal said that the launch of ‘Nabil Skilled Migrant Entrepreneurship Loan' represents a significant two-year milestone in sustainable banking, expanding Nabil Bank's range of products that support local economies and small businesses.

Gyanendra Prasad Dhungana, CEO Nabil Bank, said, “The loan product addresses the financial hurdles faced by returning migrants, aiding their reintegration into the community.”

He believed that the product will provide support during the transition back to Nepal in financing while Nabil School of Social Entrepreneurship will help acquire returnees to learn required knowledge to start enterprises.

The bank has 266 branch networks, 22 extension counters with 313 ATM machine serves above 1.8 million customer base across the country.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 January 2024.     

Migrant reintegration scheme on anvil

Kathmandu, Nov. 22

The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) is preparing a groundbreaking Gender-Responsive Migrant Reintegration Guide tailored specifically for Nepal's private sector.

The guide is said to be aligned with government directives and is expected to address the intricate challenges faced by returning migrant workers, with an emphasis on gender dynamics, said the FNCCI's President, Chandra Prasad Dhakal, at a workshop organised in the Capital on Wednesday.

FNCCI's guide aspires to be a significant contributor to the holistic development of returnee migrant workers, spotlighting the role of the private sector in shaping gender-sensitive reintegration initiatives for sustainable economic growth and development in Nepal.

According to the FNCCI, since the economic reintegration emerges as a linchpin for the sustainable development, tailored reintegration strategies are imperative, given challenges such as social alienation and unfamiliar economic landscapes.

Experts suggested for the establishment of Entrepreneurship Incubation Centers, aligning with global best practices to stimulate innovation and collaboration. Furthermore, strategic collaboration with industries is proposed to develop tailored skill development programmes, ensuring strict adherence to the Foreign Employment Act, 2064, said Hari Paudel, coordinator of the Develop Migration Reintegration Guidelines Nepal project.  

FNCCI is also suggested to engage with financial institutions to institute microfinance schemes specifically tailored to benefit returnee women entrepreneurs, drawing inspiration from successful international models.

In addition, the recommendation also include the creation of technology-driven job matching platforms, the formation of public-private-community partnerships focusing on industrial zones, and the provision of comprehensive counseling services through FNCCI chapters. The utilization of FNCCI's expansive global network for market linkages is encouraged, along with advocacy for specialized funds dedicated to women's empowerment within the framework of the Foreign Employment Welfare Fund (FEWF).

 According to the FNCCI, the reintegration framework is designed to ensure the seamless access of returnee migrant workers to social security schemes, the enhancement of their skills, and their successful integration into the local job market.

The framework further seeks to enhance the settlement of returnee migrants into communities by establishing mechanisms for psychosocial care, victim protection, and the effective operation of cooperative societies.

Speaking at the interaction programme, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS), Kewal Prasad Bhandari, said that the country should create an environment to hold the returnee migrants who return to Nepal with special skills and promote self-employment here.

Since countries like South Korea and Japan and organisations like the International Labour Organisation and United Nations are supporting the returnee migrant workers in Nepal, the government is also putting in efforts to forge collaborations with the private sector and development partners to support them in livelihood and integration aspects, said Bhandari.

According to him, since about two thirds of the population is involved in agriculture, reintegration programmes could begin from this sector.

President of the FNCCI, Chandra Prasad Dhakal, said that since there is no guidelines is created for the private sector in the country so far, it would help the private sector, government and the returnee migrant workers.

Entrepreneurship promotion is at the core of FNCCI's agenda, he said.

The guideline is also supported by the ILO.  

  Published in The Rising Nepal on 23 November 2023.

PM Prachanda holds interactions with diplomats about migrant workers

 Kathmandu, Sept. 12

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has instructed the Nepali ambassadors abroad to work by keeping the interests of Nepali workers and labourers at the center.

Speaking at a two-day interaction on the 'Problems of labour migration and their solutions', the Prime Minister drew the attention of the ambassadors and other concerned agencies to the plight of Nepali workers abroad and directed the envoys to work to resolve the problems faced by the workers.

In a first of its kind initiation, the government called Nepali ambassadors abroad to Kathmandu and discussed the problems and difficulties faced by Nepali workers. The ambassadors presented their reports, and prepared a future action plan.

Prime Minister Prachanda has directed the ministries to immediately address the issues raised by the ambassadors during the interaction.

In his address, the Prime Minister stressed on international diplomatic relations, tourism promotion of Nepal and the welfare of Nepali workers abroad.

PM Prachanda said that foreign employment has helped the country at the time when the country is facing multiple challenges in job creation and domestic employment is affected badly.

Meanwhile, the remittance inflow has greatly helped in maintaining the country's balance of payment, and foreign employment has supported in the country's international relations and friendship. It also has contributed in the transfer of capital, skill and technology required for the modern development, business and economic growth.

However, the prime minister expressed his concerns to the problems like cheating, human rights violation, delay in rescue and workplace risks which are being faced by Nepali migrant workers.

"Labor diplomacy should be made more effective in order to protect the rights and interests of all Nepalis, guarantee minimum service facilities, ensure social security and develop an effective mechanism for hearing complaints," said PM Prachanda.

Stating that the ambassadors would pay attention to end the situation where the diplomatic missions did not listen to the complaints of any Nepali citizens when they are in trouble, he directed all agencies related to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ambassadors and labor administration to be serious and active to protect the rights and interests of Nepali people.

On the one hand, we need to increase employment opportunities within the country and on the other hand, we need to make foreign employment more secure, dignified and managed, said PM Prachanda.

"While the role of the labour sector remains important for the country's prosperity, economic diplomacy should be given sufficient attention. In order to contribute to the prosperity of the country, I believe that you would also pay sufficient attention to the promotion of foreign investment and the marketing of Nepali products," he said.

According to him, although there is a lot of potential in tourism development in Nepal, the country has not been able to take sufficient advantage of it. Therefore, you should also play an important role in promoting Nepal's tourism and increase the arrival of foreign tourists, said PM Prachanda.

Meanwhile, he expressed his worries over the growing trade deficit and cited it as a major challenge for Nepal's economy. According to him, the trade balance has to be maintained in favor of the country by diversifying country and commodities of trade. He sought an active rold of the ambassadors in this.

He also directed the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ambassadors to give immediate priority to review the labor agreements with foreign countries taking into account the rights and interests of Nepali migrant workers.

PM Prachanda directed to make the consular services provided to Nepalis going for foreign employment, information technology-based, efficient and effective.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 13 September 2023. 

Fiction Influenced By An Awful Reality

 Nepal has almost become a country of migrants, as it sends about 1,500 youths every day to foreign countries, primarily the Gulf and Malaysia, while a small number of them reach Europe and East Asia in search of jobs. The country has long been failing to create employment opportunities for the labour force of about 450,000 that enters the market every year. According to a rough estimate, not more than 50,000 jobs are created in Nepal in a year. This has forced the youth to seek alternative job options, while many are motivated by the comparatively 'lucrative' income made by their relatives or peers in the Gulf, Malaysia, Australia, and elsewhere. It is unlikely to find a household that doesn't have at least one member in a foreign country. The country has allowed its citizens to work in about 112 countries across the globe, while it is estimated that Nepali people have reached as many as 172 countries in search of jobs.

But back in 1995, the scene was starkly different. Nepalis' prime job destinations were India and the UK. A few have reached other developed countries, but the Gulf nations were not open to Nepalis seeking jobs. Aspirations were also not as high as they are now. But a frustrated youth, along with some unknown colleagues, embarks on a plane with a visa to reach Thailand, but Malaysia is his final destination. After reaching Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, they pay US$400 to a Burmese agent, asking him to take them beyond the Malaysian border. After reaching the southern Thai city of Satun, they were asked to relieve themselves of their belongings, except for 3–4 kilos of goods, including clothes, rice, and cans of fish, and sleep behind the boot of a pickup. In the night, they took a boat to cross a lake, but as the security patrol approached them, it took a U-turn and touched an unknown land with thick forest while another boat capsized in front of them.

The group of youths kept moving into the forest in the unknown land with just a torch emitting a faint light and passed the night in a tree house made with a couple of wooden planks, fighting with mosquitoes and leeches and fearing poisonous snakes and wild animals. "We tried to sleep in fear, without talking, holding our urine, having no courage to get down the tent, fearing Yamraj, the god of death," BN Joshi tells a harrowing tale of his misadventure in the forests of Malaysia in his book 'Shramatan: A Nepalese Migrant Worker's Memoir', recently translated to English from Nepali.

As their stay in the forest extended while waiting for other groups to join them, as the agents informed them, their rice and canned fish got finished, and now they have to remain on an empty stomach amidst the snakes and insects. There were 12 migrants from various countries, including Nepal and India, and two agents.

At last, they were arrested by the Malaysian authorities. They were sent to jail. After their release from prison, another harrowing journey begins through the same jungle. They again stay there in vain hope of finding another route to enter Malaysia, deceiving the immigration and police. But what they found was pain, despair, and trouble.

"One after another incident occurred. The torchlight came upon us. Disaster awaited us like a cruel god, while the sky wept lightly. Our feet smelled of wet soil, and the destination seemed distant. We were thirsty, bruised, and wounded. But to whom would we show our pain?

Tribulation got the better of me, but I remembered my country, and hundreds of unemployed youths danced before me. And then I remembered our corrupt politicians."

Joshi minutely recounts the hardships that he experienced in the jungle of Malaysia with his friends. At times, he expresses his ire at the politicians back home. Once, one of his friends remained naked for hours as the boat they found at the seashore went out of order. An old man rescues them and takes them to a nearby village. Even after reaching Thailand, they remain empty-stomached and pass an entire day in a train just drinking water. They sleep on the pavement of the road and wake up to find they are soaked in water as a tanker waters roadside plants and gardens.

It is a story of a dream, a journey, love, and a misadventure. It is also a journey through the jungles and deserts of nightmares, filled with frustration, agony, and helplessness.

Meanwhile, Joshi amuses the readers with his brief yet magnificent love for Somkit, a sister-in-law of his friend, in Thailand. They spent some of the best moments of their lives together. But the love was painful, as both of them knew the fate of their affair. 

This consciousness on the part of both lovers troubles the readers. Many of them wish the author would take Somkit with him to Nepal.

In another section of the book, the author describes his journey to Qatar and the Philippines. He was outright returned home from the Philippines, which cost him more than Rs. 150,000 for nothing. The book will remain a record of the plight of Nepali migrant workers for a long time. Even after more than 25 years, Nepalis are facing the same situation in the forests of Africa, South America, and Central America to enter the United States of America, Canada, and other first-world countries in Europe. The book is a slap in the face of the political leaders and policymakers in Nepal, as they have long failed to create a sustainable policy and programme to hold youth back home or support them when in trouble while they are in foreign land.

Had the author not mentioned that the book was a memoir, most of the readers would have mistaken it for a novel. Joshi had finely crafted his memories into a fictional narrative that continuously holds the readers' attention as the story of struggle and survival unfolds. Most of the story is narrated with the help of dialogue among his friends and between him and Somkit. Those who are not familiar with the plight of Nepali migrant workers who reach foreign countries illegally might find it like a fairy tale.

However, the translation has failed to maintain the standard of the book. Innumerable grammatical mistakes tease your taste for reading. It's the story that evokes the emotions of the readers, but the language of the book in many places has largely failed to give proper feelings to the happenings. At times, you might feel that a certain section was translated by Google. The book is not properly copyedited. Likewise, the names and locations mentioned in the book are difficult to identify for foreign readers. All the places should have been connected with the capital cities of the country or any other landmarks familiar to foreigners so that they would understand the story better.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily's Friday Supplement on 21 July 2023.   

Let students abroad open remittance savings account in Nepali banks

Kathmandu, Aug. 3

Nepali migrant workers with 'work permit' issued by the Government of Nepal can open Remittance Savings Account in banks in Nepal to save the money they earn while working in foreign land.

The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) announced the policy a couple of years ago to encourage the migrant Nepali workers to send their earnings through the formal channel. The Remittance Savings Account offers about 1 per cent more  interest rate than the one given in other savings product. Currently, Nepali banks are offering up to 9 per cent interest rate in these accounts.

Customers can open the account with zero balance in many banks while others demand Rs. 100 as the minimum balance, and a few of them have a requirement of Rs. 1000. Having an account in Nepali banks also provides other facilities like applying for the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of various companies.

Recently the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) has also implemented a policy to set 10 per cent quota for all the IPOs announced in Nepal for  Nepali workers. They can open Demat and MeroShare accounts and get the mobile banking facility from the respective bank.

This means Nepali workers can apply for the IPO via online application system of MeroShare application of the CDS and Clearing Limited.

But Nepali students who are pursuing their higher education in higher education institutions in various developed countries can't open the Remittance Savings Account. According to the NRB, this product is exclusively designed for the migrant Nepali workers flying abroad with the 'work permit'.

However, Nepali students work and earn along with their studies. Many developed countries allow 20-28 hours work in a week. For example, Australia has a rule that allows students, including the foreign ones, to work for 24  hours a week while in Japan the time is 28 hours for the same period.

Narendra Saud, who is pursuing his PhD at the University for the Creative Arts in the United Kingdom, said that students, also those who are at the foreign universities under scholarship programmes, earn a good amount of money. "My Nepali friends in the UK work and earn. They want to open the remittance account and make investment in the share markets. It might result in a good return after five years or a decade," he said while adding that  the central bank should allow them to open the remittance account and make investment in IPOs.

Nepal has been witnessing a growing outflow of students in recent years with the highest number of Nepali youth – 114,429 – obtaining 'No Objection Letter' from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) in the Fiscal Year 2021/22. A decade ago than that, the number of students obtaining NOC was just 10,324.

Similarly, about Rs. 65 billion is exchanged in various foreign currencies from the central bank in a year to pay universities abroad.

President of the Nepal Bankers Association (NBA), Sunil KC, said that including Nepali students in remittance savings account could be a good step and the issue would be discussed at the forum of his organisation.

"Although the product was especially designed for the migrant workers, students should also be allowed to send the lawfully earned money back  home," said KC.

The NRB also said that the issue was not in  consideration in the policy discussions conducted by the central bank. However, after a brief talk with The Rising Nepal, Spokesperson of the NRB, Dr. Gunakar Bhatta, said that the central bank's attention has been drawn to the issue.

 

Opening remittance account

To open a Remittance Savings Account in Nepali commercial and development banks, one  needs personal identification documents like citizenship or passport, work permit, and a passport size photo. All these documents can be submitted via online application form of the respective banks.

Likewise, if family members of the migrant worker want to open this type of bank account, they need to submit the evidence that they received remittance or a person from the family is employed abroad along with the citizenship or passport and passport size photo. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 4 August 2023.   

Nepal Embassy in SAfrica issues travel advisory amid trafficking cases

Kathmandu, Jan. 6: The Embassy of Nepal in Pretoria, South Africa, has issued a travel advisory for Nepali nationals in the wake of the increased cases of human traffickers and manpower agents taking Nepalis illegally to South Africa via various African or Indian cities or leaving them stranded on the way. 

Of late, youth in Nepal are illusioned by the human traffickers that it would be easy to go to Europe and America from South Africa and the latter take millions of rupees and send them here via various countries in Asia and Africa, said the embassy in the advisory issued on Thursday. 

The traffickers have been using New Delhi and Mumbai of India, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in Asia, and Tanzania, Mozambique, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Congo and other countries in Africa as the transit to take Nepali nationals to South Africa. “They are brought to South Africa in a very difficult and risky manner while many are left stranded in various places enroute in extreme conditions,” read the advisory. 

The embassy has requested the concerned people to refrain from such illegal activities and to be aware of the fact that the act of engaging in foreign employment or other similar temptations, taking a large amount of money and bringing a person abroad is punishable. 

According to the embassy, a notice published in the Official Gazette of South Africa on August 2, 2022, mentions that there is a legal arrangement to employ foreign nationals only in cases where the positions of 140 types of skilled manpower requiring special knowledge and skills are not filled by native citizens. 

Even if any Nepali is fit to apply for or be recruited in any of such positions, they should mandatorily obtain ‘labour approval’ from the government of Nepal. The list of such positions is available online in the website of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) of South Africa. 

The schedule published by the DHA gives a detailed information about the occupations and positions that could be taken by the foreign nationals, their description, minimum qualification required and professional body of registration. For example, Policy and Planning Manager’s job description is to plan, develop, organise, direct, control and coordinate policy advice and strategic planning within organisation. It requires minimum qualification of Bachelor Honours Degree, Postgraduate Diploma, or Bachelor’s Degree, and such professional should be registered with the relevant professional body, council or board recognised by the South African government. 

Likewise, since the tourist visa issued by the South African High Commissioner and Consulate General in India is only for the purpose of going to South Africa on a tourist visit, it is not possible to engage in employment based on that visa.

As it is illegal to engage in any kind of employment on a tourist visa, the persons involved in such activities will be arrested by the relevant South African authorities and punished and fined according to the law and deported, read the advisory. “It is misleading and false that it is easy to go from South Africa to Europe, America and other countries as a visa of the respective country is required to go to any country,” said the 

embassy and requested that for visa related information, contact the embassy of the respective country or the Nepali missions abroad to get official information. 

It said that Nepali citizens can reach out to the embassy via eonpretoria@mofa.gov.np or hotline number with WhatsApp 0027765093941. 

Superintendent of Police Dan Bahadur Malla, who is also Spokesperson for the Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau of Nepal Police, said that the issues of Nepalis being trafficked to various African countries have come to the notice of police but no complain has been filed by anyone yet. 

“There are many complaints from the Middle East and East Asian nations, and many Nepali nationals have been rescued, but we have not got any complaint from those exploited in the African countries,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Embassy of Nepal in London, the United Kingdom, Friday issued a notice that it had not issued any notice on ‘UK Seasonal Visa’. 

A notice was published in a letter head of the embassy four days ago informing that the date of the interview for Seasonal Worker Visa is changed. “The notice is published by faking the letter head, seal and signature of the Embassy of Nepal in London. So, this embassy requests to all concerned not to apply for the visa on the basis of that notice,” read a notice of the embassy. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 7 January 2023.