STUDIES CONFIRM FOREIGN EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES DUPING MIGRANT WORKERS

STUDIES CONFIRM FOREIGN EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES DUPING
MIGRANT WORKERS
Kathmandu, 13 Dec.: Many foreign employment recruitment agencies in the country have been found to be deceiving Nepali migrant workers even before they reach the countries of their destination, RSS reports.

A research report titled "False Promises : Exploitation and Forced Labour of Nepali Migrant workers' released by Amnesty International here today points out that majority of migrant workers are not given salary as per their contract, forced to work without a rest day, are locked up and physically abused.

Of the 150 returnees and prospective migrant workers interviewed for the report, more than 90 per cent of them said that they were deceived by recruitment agencies and brokers on the fundamental aspects of their contract.

Speaking on the occasion, Amnesty International Researcher on Asia-Pacific Migrants' Rights, Norma Kang Muico said if the Government of Nepal gives priority to safe migration then that would benefit thousands of workers and their families every year, and would also benefit the economy if it takes initiative to protect its citizens abroad.

According to the report findings recruitment agencies have been charging on an average Rs. 100,000 as service fees from the migrant workers, which is three times more than the average annual income of Nepal in 2010. A total of 294,094 Nepali workers left home for foreign employment in 2010, and the number was 55,025 in 2000.

Likewise, majority of the Nepali migrant workers end up in construction, production and domestic work in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE.

Speaking at the program, Director General of the Department of Foreign Employment, Purna Chandra Bhattarai made it clear that the Government was working despite its limited resources to fully enforce the Foreign Employment Act and its regulations in order to make foreign employment safe and dignified.
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UPDATE SPEAKER SUGGESTS DISCUSSIONS FOR CONSENSUS
Kathmandu, 13 Dec.: Constituent Assembly Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang has said the regular meetings of the Legislature-Parliament would be made limited for a short period of time in an effort to expedite the tasks of peace and constitution
writing, RSS reports.

Inaugurating the Second National Meeting of the former MPs’ Forum and seminar on state restructuring in the capital on Tuesday, Nembang said he has suggested the top leaders of major political parties to engage in discussions and work harder until consensus was forged in contentious issues of constitution.

Chairman Nembang said there has been progress in constitution writing following the crucial decisions in peace process adding that constitution writing process was delayed after the parties took long time to be clear regarding the nexus between peace process and constitution writing.

Speaking on the occasion, former prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa said that the country’s economic status should be considered in course of state restructuring.

Chairman of the Forum, Tara Nath Ranabhat suggested the political parties to concentrate on promulgating constitution soon by ending the political transition.
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