For many South Asian countries, remittance is a crucial part of the economy. The 2006 World Bank’s Global Economic Prospect report says that Asian countries earn around $46 billion through remittance. India is the highest remittance receiver in the world, Pakistan receives $4 billion and Bangladesh $3.3 billion and Nepal around $1.5 billion. Currently, Nepalese workers work in 32 countries around the world. The main problem is that majority of these workers are unskilled labors and they do works that are very dirty and pose great danger.
American Chronicle reports:
One, Nepal needs to continue formalizing its labor contracts as there is an increasing demand for Nepali foreign labor particularly in the unskilled dirty, dangerous job category. Recent estimates show the total number of Nepali workers abroad had nearly quadrupled in the past decade, and in the past two years after Jan Andolan-2 the figure could have increased by nearly 40%. Two, Nepali workers, both male and female, in both skilled and unskilled labor sectors now serve globally, but with poor skills, often departing Nepal through land routes circumventing the official immigration count which mostly tallies air travel. It is important the government keep official records of all departures, which the Department of Labor and Immigration must update periodically. Moreover, it is only recently that South Korea, Japan and Malaysia started showing interest in skilled Nepali workers in the formal labor sector, though the trend of Nepali workers reaching distant foreign shores by other means on previous occasions cannot be discounted.
Nepal is a poor country and do not have a strong industrial infrastructure. Tourism is the main foreign currency earning sector but long time political instability has caused much damage to this sector. To escape the accute poverty, many Nepalese people go abroad. The problem is, many of these workers go abroad by illegal means. Wage is another major issue. In many countries, foreign workers especially unskilled workers are not well paid. One of the biggest examples is the Nepalese Gurkhas who work in the British army. Despite their loyalty and bravery, the Gurkha soldiers do not receive equal treatment. Their payment is far lower than regular British soldiers.
In order to maintain the smooth flow of remittance into the country, Nepalese Government should take necessary measures. The government agencies that are engaged in recruiting and sending Nepalese people abroad should develop their standard of services. Nepalese foreign missions should make sure that Nepalese workers coming into the host country carry necessary documents and formalize a contract with the employers which will ensure the workers proper treatment.
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