Jose Assalino is the Director of International Labor Organisation (ILO) Nepal. He has been in Nepal for two years but has been with the Organisation since 1995. Since he started working in 1976, he has held positions all over the world, “from the North Pole to the South, and almost everywhere in between.”

Sewa Bhattarai caught up with the itinerant officer from Portugal to discuss ILO’s activities in Nepal. 

How do you like working in Nepal?

Nepal has been one of the best places to work in for me. Maybe this isn’t nice to the other places I’ve been to, but Nepal is really beautiful, the people are warm and open, and there’s incredible diversity.

Have you traveled inside Nepal? Which is your favorite place?

Not as much as I would like. But I’ve been to over 30 districts. The place that impacted me the most is the Far West, not from a tourist’s perspective, though it’s really beautiful. I think it has a lot of potential for development, from the perspective of the people and natural resources.

You’ve worked in many countries. Which has been the most challenging?

Working in African countries was very challenging. Some of these countries are very rich in resources like oil, diamonds – you name it. But a small group of people benefits from these while a large number live in abject poverty. You don’t see this reflected in the statistics, though: the GDP reflects an average of these two, hiding the inequality.

What are ILO’s activities in Nepal?

ILO works in three areas: Employment, improvement of labor market governance, and compliance with international labor standards.

Could you please explain ILO’s activities in employment?

The Ministry of Labor and Employment is working on an Employment Policy, which should come out this year. We’re part of the drafting committee. By employment, we don’t just mean economic development, which isn’t our ultimate goal. Our ultimate goal is better life for workers.

In Nepal, the problem is that policies are made but not implemented.

The problem with policies is that they are written without consultation with the workers, and so there are these beautiful policies that no one implements. And whenever policies are reviewed, only the paper is scrutinized, not the process. We’re working to improve the process.

What policies does Nepal need to address its high labor migration?

Migration can’t be stopped. Once migration starts, it takes on a life of its own. You can only try to make it safer for the migrants, and to ensure they get jobs that fit their skills.

Stopping migration forcefully has never worked, it only endangers migrants more by forcing them to move through illegal channels and possibly barring them from returning home. And migration shouldn’t be stopped because mobility is a basic human right.

But if employment was available locally, then people wouldn’t have to migrate for opportunities?

That’s true for some, but it isn’t the whole truth. It’s believed that rural areas should be developed to reduce migration. But in fact, when rural areas become developed, its people are more educated and have better access to information. Their expectations rise, and they migrate even more. Of course, rural areas should be developed, but if we do it with the aim of stopping migration, then we’re taking a right step for a wrong cause.

But we in Nepal have the impression that labor migration is harmful to our country.

Migration isn’t always bad. There’s remittance, and migrants come back with better skills. It’s a normal, global process. It’s the press that only highlights the bad side. Also, Nepal’s high rate of labor migration isn’t going to go on forever. Someday it’ll enter a new phase where migration will slow down and Nepal will become a country that sends as well as receives migrants.

Let’s talk about ILO’s other area of work: Compliance to international labor standards.

According to Labor Force Survey 2008, there’s only three percent unemployment in Nepal. But 25.16% of people are still poor, and that’s a high number, even though Nepal made amazing progress in reducing poverty from 41.76% in 1996. This tells you that the main problem in Nepal isn’t unemployment, it’s poor working conditions. Labor standards can improve these conditions by giving a way out of informality.

Many say the international labor standards are a luxury.

But they are necessary to improve poor working conditions, which in turn is necessary to increase productivity. Labor standards include contracts, minimum wage, and employment security, which are essential to protect workers. It also includes social dialogue which reduces conflicts. They are known to have positive impacts on productivity.

What’s your comment on the politicization of labor unions in Nepal?

It happens all over the world, not just in Nepal. We believe it’s a reflection of the close ties between political parties and the people.

How do you spend your free time?

I work in my free time. I know it sounds very boring, my wife says the same, but that’s how it is.

There must be something you enjoy besides work?

I enjoy listening to music and reading. Though most of my reading is about management, economy and labor, I must confess I also enjoy lighter reading. I’ve devoured the entire works by John Grisham.

Published on: 4 July 2014 | Republica