Project to determine number of foreign workers; AI accuses govt of not protecting Nepalis migrant workers’ right

Kathmandu / December 1: A research-based project has been launched to discover the number of foreign workers in Nepal and their contribution to economic development of the country.

The project jointly launched by the International Organisation of Migration, European Union and Our Work on International Migration is expected to complete by the first month of 2018 AD.

Information about this was shared amidst a pogramme here Tuesday. On the occasion, Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Employment Ram Kumar Acharya said the project would not only provide data and information about foreign workers here but also could contribute to the country’s development.

As per the estimated data, there are presently around one million foreign workers including Indians in the country.

EU Ambassador to Nepal Renjse Teerink said the complete research-based project would come up with findings that are helpful in the protection of rights of foreign workers.

ILO Nepal Representative Jose Assalino said the project aimed to carry out research on south-to-south migration is being launched in 10 countries including Nepal. The participants of the programme said the project is of new kind in the context of Nepal.

Meanwhile, the Amnesty International Nepal (AIN) has accused the government of Nepal that it was not making any concrete efforts to secure the welfare of the Nepalis migrant workers in Qatar.

In a press statement issued by the AIN yesterday night, the human rights organization stated that it was a matter of shame for the country for failing to safeguard its fellow countrymen’s labor rights in Qatar.

Qatar recently approved an amendment to its labor law which it pledged some five years ago in view of offering migrant workers various kind of welfare, including ensuring labor rights and safety of workers.

Although Qatar agreed to amend to its existing labor law, AIN claims that there were no sign of reforms in sights in many migrant workers aspects like their rights to return home, rights to switch the job, rights to health and security among others.

Qatar has drawn significant number of Nepali migrant workers for construction of infrastructures for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

AIN therefore has urged the government of Nepal to appeal to the world football’s governing body, Federation International de Football Association (FIFA), to pile pressure on Qatar government to ensure the migrant workers’ labor rights there. RSS