Government plans to explore new labour markets

KATHMANDU:

Dreams of Nepali foreign employment aspirants wanting to work in countries with better pay than in Gulf countries may be materialising. To explore job opportunities in such destination countries, the government is preparing to conduct a study soon.

The study will also look into possibilities of sending workers in sectors other than where many Nepali migrant workers are already engaged and ensure comparatively good income and work safety. Generally, a majority of Nepali aspirants leaving for employment in Gulf countries are engaged in sectors that are popularly referred to as ‘3D’ — dirty, dangerous and difficult.

For the study purpose, which will be completed within a year once it begins, the Foreign Employment Promotion Board (FEPB) has already decided to form a nine-member high-level committee under the coordination of a foreign employment expert.

So far, Nepali recruiting agencies are sending workers mainly to Malaysia and Gulf destinations, where demand is high and the recruitment process is relatively easier. However, the economic returns from these destinations are comparatively lower, according to FEPB.

The study committee includes president of Non-Resident Nepali Association, president of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies, a legal expert, a gender expert, executive director of FEBP and one joint secretary each from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE), among others, as members. Even though the provision on formation of the committee has already been decided, MoLE is yet to fix the name of the coordinator and two experts.

According to Raghu Raj Kafle, executive director of FEPB, the study will focus basically on how to make existing destinations safe and secure for Nepali workers, explore foreign employment opportunities in other countries, and find what type of workers such labour destinations seek. “There is skill mismatch and Nepalis are not being hired for good jobs,” he added.

Each day, more than 1,500 Nepali individuals on an average are leaving the country for employment purposes. And, more than 90 per cent of them land in countries like Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.

FEPB officials are hopeful that the study will find out ways to open the way for supplying workforce to developed countries like the United States and European countries where workers can earn more and provision of workers’ rights is good.

So far, the government has opened 110 countries, including a number of developed nations for supplying workforce through mediation of foreign employment agencies. But, when it comes to real supply, hardly 10 countries, including Gulf destinations and Malaysia, are hiring Nepali aspirants.

Few aspirants leave for developed western countries either through recruiting agencies or personal approach. Foreign employment agencies have been saying that even though they wanted to supply workers to better economies, demand is low and in some cases there is no skilled workforce as demanded.

For over the last five years, the government has been sending workers to Japan and South Korea under separate agreements reached in the past. However, these agreements have not been able to give results by reflecting benefits to a huge number of Nepali individuals eyeing jobs in international labour markets.

Japanese firms hire trainee workers under Japan International Training Cooperation Organisation (JITCO) provision, while Korea has been taking Nepali workers based on Employment Permit System (EPS).

Kafle said that besides exploring new markets, FEPB will also review effectiveness of agreements and memorandum of understandings signed by government to supply labour.

Source: THT