Govt to discuss labour issues with Malaysia

KATHMANDU:

The government is all set to discuss the possibilities of supplying Nepali workers to Malaysia in domestic help sector. This will be one of the main agendas besides labour agreement, during visit of Malaysian Human Resources Minister Datuk Richard Anak Jaem.

Jaem is arriving in Kathmandu on Wednesday on a two-day official visit. His visit is considered as crucial in discussing issues related to Nepali migrants. Despite the necessity of a pact to protect rights of workers, both governments have been unable to reach an understanding to sign the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for long.

State Minister for Labour and Employment Tek Bahadur Gurung said that they would discuss about Malaysia’s interest to hire Nepali domestic workers, MoU, and management of Nepali workers in Malaysia. Jaem will be leading a nine-member delegation to Nepal, after completing his visit to Bangladesh for a similar purpose.

“Among others, we will request the Malaysian minister to legalise Nepalis overstaying their visa and facilitate the rescue of 400 plus workers who are in jail there for various reasons,” said Gurung. He added they will also request Minister Jaem for repatriation of those Nepali workers who are staying there illegally and wish to return home.

There are an estimated 700,000 to 800,000 Nepali workers in Malaysia and out of them around 40,000 hold illegal status. Since visa fee provision has been a financial burden for job aspirants, Nepal will also request the Malaysian delegation to make provisions of free visas for Nepali workers and help connect Nepali manpower agencies directly to employers of Malaysia.

Malaysia is the biggest labour destination for Nepali workers as it has been absorbing the highest number of workers annually from Nepal. The Department of Foreign Employment data shows that the country employed 213,575 workers, including 6,176 females during the last fiscal.

Bad news for Nepal?

Malaysia has decided to hire Bangladeshis in manufacturing, construction and service sectors. This is expected leave a negative impact on the demand for Nepali workers from Malaysia.

“If Malaysia starts employing workers from Bangladesh in sectors other than plantation, Nepal may witness fall in demand by 50 per cent,” said Tek Bahadur Gurung, state minister for Labour and Employment. He said that they will discuss about it during Jaem’s visit to Nepal.

Jaem during his visit to Bangladesh on Monday announced that the Malaysian Cabinet has agreed to hire Bangladeshi workers in those sectors. Earlier, Malaysia had banned employing Bangladeshi workers in all sectors except in the government-to-government agreed plantation sector.

Source: THT