Political Commitment on Migrant Rights
Representatives from major political parties have expressed commitments to incorporate the issues concerning the rights of migrant Nepali workers in their party´s election manifesto for upcoming Constituent Assembly (CA) poll.
Taking part in an interaction program organized by Amnesty International Nepal on 13th August 2013 in capital, leaders of United Communist Party of Nepal (UCPN -Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC), Communist Party of Nepal United Marxist and Leninist (CPN-UML), Federal Socialist Party (FSP), Nepal Communist Party (United) and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Democratic) vowed to ensure rights of the migrant workers in their election manifesto. On the occasion, government officials and representatives from various organizations working for migrant rights also put forward their suggestions and expectations from political parties for safe migration.
Addressing the function former Minister of labour and leader of Nepali Congress appreciated AI’s initiative for migrant workers and also suggested to organize such program in receiving countries too. He said that all problems are related to unskilled workers so government should send them abroad only after the necessary trainings. The government to government MoU was signed between Nepal and South Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS) system and Foreign Employment Act (2007) was came into force when Mr. Lekhak was the Minister. Likewise, Former Chief Whip of Nepali Congress Laxman Ghimire said there is an urgent need to uplift human resource in Nepalese diplomatic missions abroad. He expressed his commitment to incorporate such issues in his party’s election manifesto.
Similarly, then constitutional assembly(CA) member affiliated to Nepali congress and a member of cross party initiative for migrant rights Gagan Thapa said there were vague promises in their election manifesto in past but now they will try to do something specifically as suggested by Amnesty International. Then CA member affiliated to CPN (UML) and a member of cross party initiative for migrant rights Brinda Pande said that they will address migrant workers and domestic workers in their manifesto equally.
Representatives of UCPN (Maoist) Biswa Bhakta Dulal ‘Ahuti’ said his party is ready to include all recommendation of AI. Likewise, Secretary of Ministries of Labour & Employment (MoLE), Sureshman Shrestha said his ministry is aware of migrant worker’s problem but there is hindrance to work smoothly due to the lack of human resources.
Director General of Department of Foreign Employment (DOFE) Binod KC said that they are working for migrant workers using all latest technology available and it will be continue with more advance way in future.
Badri Pandey- Nepali Congress, Ganesh Shah- CPN (United), Norsan Sherpa- Federal Socialist Party (FSP), Hari Neupane- Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Democratic), Yam Lal Adhikari-Deputy Director, Foreign employment promotion board (FEPB), Ramji Kunwar- Nepal Trade Union Congress, Bisnu Khatri- Youth Action Nepal, Som Luitel- Peoples Forum, Nikunja Bhandari- Pravasi Nepali Coordination Committee (PNCC) , Bijaya Rai- Pourakhi, Rupa Shrestha- WOREC Nepal, Chandani Rana – ABC Nepal and Rajkumar Siwakoti-Human Rights And Democratic Forum also expressed their views on the occasion.
Acting General Secretary of AI Nepal, Dik Prasad Ghimire welcomed all participant and the program was chaired by Chairperson of AI Nepal, Shambhu Thakur.
At the beginning Director of AI Nepal Rameshwar Nepal made a presentation highlighting AI’s research finding and ongoing campaign for protecting rights of Nepali migrant workers.
AI is calling on all political parties to incorporate safe migration policies into their election manifestos for upcoming 19th November election of CA and for political consensus on a number of key issues. AI is also urging Nepal government to take the effective action for the protection of migrant workers rather than to view migrants as mere revenue earners via their remittances.