The National Human Rights Commission has urged all stakeholders to make meaningful contributions and participate in the protection of the rights of migrant workers.
Recalling that December 18 is observed worldwide as International Migrants Day, the Commission issued a press release, with the international theme “My Great Story: Cultures and Development” and the national commitment “Good Governance in the Labour Migration Cycle: Safe, Dignified and Skilled Migration,” making the said appeal.
The Commission has recalled that it has been carrying out activities such as monitoring, study and research, receiving complaints, cooperating and coordinating with national human rights institutions of destination countries, and signing memoranda of understanding to forward complaints, for the protection of the human rights of Nepali migrant workers.
The press release states that the Commission has been providing recommendations and suggestions to the Government of Nepal regarding making labour migration management safe, systematic, and dignified, as well as protecting the human rights of Nepali workers.
Although the Government of Nepal has amended and implemented various policies and regulations from time to time in labour migration management, the Commission has stated that citizens going for foreign employment have not been able to receive the expected benefits due to ineffective implementation.
Noting that incidents of fraud in the name of foreign employment are on the rise, the press release states that the flow of workers to countries banned by the Government of Nepal has not been stopped.
The Commission has stated that foreign employment management is becoming increasingly challenging day by day due to the failure to make the labour migration process simple, efficient, and accountable.
The press release mentions that although the private sector should operate its business in foreign employment management in a responsible and healthy competitive manner to ensure good governance, there has been insufficient concern from the private sector in this regard.
The Commission has stated that there is a need for the Government of Nepal to appoint labour attachés and expand human resources in Nepali diplomatic missions as required to ensure the protection of workers’ human rights.
The press release emphasizes the need to strengthen labour diplomacy and to act seriously on access to justice and compensation.
In the context of remittances becoming a matter of national concern, the Commission has stated that there is a need to make the protection of workers’ human rights an issue of national importance and priority.
The Commission has urged stakeholders to be sensitive in protecting the rights of migrant workers, to make appropriate policy arrangements, and to address the problems seen in the migration sector in a just and legal manner.
According to the press release issued by Commission Spokesperson and Joint Secretary Dr. Tikaram Pokharel, all three levels of government and concerned responsible bodies have been urged to take result-oriented initiatives by holding the private sector accountable toward making migration safe, dignified, and regular.