Detail

Dialogue Programme on Issues of Migration

Author:

Newspaper:

Date: 7 November 2011

Type: Dialogue Programme

Date:
7 November 2011
Event type:
Dialogue Programme
Location:
Hotel Annapurna
Organiser:
Alliance for Social Dialogue
Contact:
Website:www.asd.org.np
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +977-01-4472807

Summary:

Mr. Hari Sharma, Director for the Alliance for Social Dialogue (ASD), commenced the programme by welcoming all participants and highlighted the importance of creating constant dialogues between trade union activists and researchers for a better understanding of the new trends and development on migration and advocacy purposes.

After the participants from Nepal Trade Union Congress-Independent (NTUC-I), General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), All Nepal Trade Union Federation-Revolutionary (ANTUF-R), Centre for the Study of Labour and Mobility (CESLAM), Nepal Economic Forum and the Alliance for Social Dialogue (ASD) introduced themselves, the following presentations were made:

1. Background Information and Labour Migration Trends – Sanjay Sharma, Research Associate, CESLAM
Utilising the data provided by the Department of Foreign Employment, census of Nepal and India and unofficial data from newspapers, the presentation highlighted data discrepancies in official data and questioned the unavailability of data on undocumented and illegal migrant workers, returnees, deaths abroad and migrants to India. It also provided available statistics on documented migrant workers, major destinations, remittance, absentee population, deaths of Nepali abroad and the changing modes of contracts for males and females. The presentation also emphasised the importance of data accuracy in policy formulation and interventions.

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2. Migration Policies in Nepal—Amrita Limbu, Research Associate, CESLAM

The presentation discussed the major national policies/instrument and international conventions guiding Nepal’s labour migration experience. It also listed the three major migration related international conventions not ratified by Nepal—the provisions of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, ILO 97 and ILO 143, and their provisions. Underlining the inadequacy of existing policies, non-ratification of important conventions and the gap in protecting undocumented workers, the presentation urged trade union members to take up these issues.

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3. Status of Youth Migration: A Case Study of Jhapa—Bishnu Kharel, IDF Jhapa

The presentation provided the key findings of Mr. Bishnu Kharel's case study on youth migration. The questionnaire survey was carried out on a sample of 1000 men and 200 women from Jhapa, Ilam, Panchthar, Taplejung, Morang, Sunsari, and Dhankuta districts. The sample was segregated into two groups: migrant workers who have worked abroad and aspiring migrant workers. Through interviews, focus group discussions and case studies, Kharel's study led to some interesting findings such as: 63 per cent of migrant workers had taken loans to go and work abroad; 0.3 per cent had had a Master's degree; and 71 per cent were educated till class 10. The presentation also addressed some of the major issues related to fraudulence in the migratory process of workers going for overseas migration.

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4. Pre-Departure Orientation: Presentation based on Participant Observation—Himal Kharel and Chiranjibi Bhandari

The presentation was based on a study conducted by Mr. Himal Kharel and Mr. Chiranjibi Bhandari on the pre-departure training for migrant workers. Clarifying the importance of pre-departure trainings for every migrant workers’safety and security, the presentation gave an account of the trainings process and its limitations. While the training focuses on issues like language and culture of the destination countries, it also sheds light on labour laws, driving rules, contagious diseases, and others. It also presented some of the problems surrounding the training. Since the trainings are centralised and conducted only in Kathmandu, they have not been easily accessible to many potential migrant workers living outside Kathmandu. Furthermore, it is hard to secure and retain the attention of the participants in the two-day long (12.5 hours) orientation training when their minds are already preoccupied with thoughts of going abroad and various departure related issues. Moreover, only a few institutions genuinely offer actual orientation trainings, undermining the effectiveness and scope of orientation trainings in general. To make the orientation programmes more effective, the presentation recommended trainings be provided by NGOs, pre-departure orientation-related policies be made clearer, a monitoring body including trade unions and related stakeholders be formed, and trainings be decentralised and conducted in various parts of the country.

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5. Kafala System—Rooja Bajracharya, Research Associate, CESLAM

The presentation provided an overview of the Kafala system that regulates residency and employment of all migrant workers employed in the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) countries. Focusing particularly on domestic workers, that include females and males, the presentation explained how the absence of legal coverage for domestic workers by the labour laws and social security laws of destination countries make them more vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. It also described how the legal status of domestic workers is tied to the sponsors, who by paying all recruiting fees, that amount to 2-3 times the yearly salary of the worker, not only assume full economic and legal responsibility for the worker but also adopt complete control over their mobility. The presentation also discussed the ramifications of absconding that criminalise migrant workers and the importance of signing and strengthening bi-lateral agreements. In conclusion, the presentation recommended there be campaigning and awareness on the Kafala system with an emphasis on pre-employment orientations and encouragement to apply for work outside the domestic sphere. In addition, it highlighted the need for pre-departure orientations to inform migrant workers to leave a copy of travel documents at home and carry one set with them along with important contact information of embassies, consulates and civil society organisations.

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6. Current Status and Policy Issues of Remittance—Rojesh Shrestha, Nepal Economic Forum

The presentation provided an economic overview of Nepal through the GDP growth rates of FY2010/11 and estimated growth rate of FY 2011/2012, key macroeconomic indicators and Nepali’s access to basic facilities such as cooperatives and commercial banks within 30 minutes. It gave an account of foreign employment and remittance by categorising workers into NRNs and Bipalis and listing the number of workers approved for foreign employment. Further, it provided data on the inflow of remittance from FY 2000/01 – FY2010/11, comparisons of percentages of households receiving remittances, total amount of remittance received and per-capita remittance in 1995/96, 2003/04 and 2010/11 and information on top 10 Remittance Recipient countries in 2009 calculated as a percentage of GDP and breakdown of the primary usages of remittance in percentages. With the escalation in the inflow of remittance and the high usage of remittance in daily consumption (78.9 per cent), the presentation offered other means through which remittances could be put to productive investment. Investment opportunities through securities, sector specific funds, bank deposit schemes, corporate debentures, collective investment vehicle and mutual funds were presented.

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