Amnesty International Nepal organized a public talk program on ‘South Korea: Rights of Migrant workers’ in Kathmandu on December 21, 2007.
Speaking at the program Krishna Pahadi, a prominent human rights defenders of Nepal, said the title of AI’s report ‘migrant workers are also human beings’ showed how the migrant workers were being treated across the globe and called upon the human rights agencies working in Nepal to set up a coalition to work in the issue. He also called upon the South Korean employment agencies and the government to work towards maintaining a transparency in their work and facilities making their profession respected and dignified.
Charan Prasain, Coordinator of Joint Forum for Human Rights, said the absence of the foreign minister as well as the Korean ambassador in the program showed how sensitive they were towards the issue and called upon the employment agencies to formulate and adhere to a code of conduct. He also urge to the South Korean government to respect international humanitarian law and trade union rights.
Earlier, AI Nepal requested to the foreign minister, Sahana Pradhan and the Korea Ambassador to Nepal Nam Sanj Jung as guest speaker. They both had confirmed their participation in the program. In the basic of their confirmation all media were informed about their participation. However, three day before the program the South Korean ambassador suddenly cancelled his schedule. Similarly Minister Ms. Pradhan also cancelled her participation one hour before of the program start in the same day. But the minister Ms. Pradhan sent a message to the program. Minister Pradhan lauded the efforts being made by Amnesty International in safeguarding the rights and well-being of the migrant workers and disclosed that any issues in this regard could be resolved mutually since the signing of the EPS between Nepal and South Korea recently.
Speaking at the program Pradeep Pokharel, Advisor of AI, Nepal, described the Nepali workers going to conflict-affected countries that have been banned by the government as human trafficking and called for action against the employment agencies involved in sending Nepali workers to such countries.
Ramesh Chalise, the Central Committee Member of the Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC) urged to the Korean government to respect workers rights.
LP Sawa Limbu, President of the Foreign Employment Agencies’ Association, said the Agencies have been strictly adhering to the Foreign Employment Act and called for cooperation of the civil society in ensuring that the people willing to go for foreign employment are not duped and need to get their basic rights in the country where they work.
At the program, AI Nepal central member, Ms. Sharada Sharma, presented a concept paper highlighting the objectives of the program, definition of migrant worker, state of migrant workers rights in South Korea and their situation and the AI’s concern on the rights of migrant workers in South Korea.
Acting Chairperson of AI Nepal, Dhruba Kumar Karki delivered the vote of thanks and called upon all concerned to ensure that the migrant workers also enjoy their rights like any other human beings.
Altogether 250 people including representatives of foreign employment agencies, AI members, youth and students, journalists and people from various walks of life took part in the program.