The issue of migration will be included as a problem created by foreign employment in the 18 th summit of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to be held in Kathmandu from November 26.

It will be included in the agenda of SAARC with an objective of forging common concept among SAARC countries on the issue of human trafficking together with migration. Labor and Secretary Bhola Prasad Siwakoti said the Foreign Employment Promotion Board has prepared the proposal and his ministry is studying it now. After its study, it will be sent to SAARC secretariat via the Foreign Ministry, he said. The proposal has stressed on the migration outside of SAARC rather than within itself. It was prepared for a single migration policy among SAARC nations, said Siwakoti. 

Executive Director of the Board Raghuraj Kafle said migration was a common problem for SAARC countries and is being included as agenda. Although some people migrate to India and Maldives from outside, other countries have migration from them to other countries. 

This proposal aims to reduce the problem of migration and also benefit workers abroad. It was not included as agenda in any meeting of SAARC though it is a global problem. 

There are complaints of having to pay more amounts for foreign jobs, less remuneration, and risky works, and the workers from SAARC countries have to face them. It is for resolving these problems in unison, it is learnt. 

Published on: 1 September 2014 | Republica