Nepal - A joint IOM-Government-EU consultation, just concluded in Kathmandu, has set out to integrate labour migration as a formal sector into Nepal’s economy.

Some two million documented Nepali migrants currently work in Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, South Korea, Japan, European countries, and beyond. A further 1.5 million undocumented migrants work in a range of countries, many in neighboring India. Their remittances represent over 20 per cent of Nepal’s economy.

The huge growth in labour migration has posed complex questions for the government, donors, development and other partners. Labour migration has significant implications for development in education, agriculture, health, youth employment, governance, and migrants’ rights and yet there has been limited discussion of the impact of migration on development and little attempt to integrate development issues into the migration debate.

Welcoming delegates to the event Dr. Alexander Spachis, Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Nepal said: “Given the increasing recognition of the centrality of labour migration to Nepal's economy it is a particular wish of the European to work directly with the Government on this issue. Coordinated work between the government, donors and stakeholders will achieve the best results.”

Thomas Sinkovits, Chief of Mission of IOM Nepal emphasized: “IOM believes in the benefits of migration and the strong contribution of migrants as potent agents of development.”
 
Speaking at the end of the consultation on 23 November, Posta Bahadur Bogati, Nepal’s Minister for Labour and Employment noted: “We believe that when well managed, migration becomes a choice and not a necessity. It benefits not only the workers, but also the country. Our migrants are now recognized as an integral and a contributing sector of our economy and with improved coordination they will enhance our overall development.”

For more information please contact

Thomas Sinkovits
IOM Nepal
Email: tsinkovits@iom.int