Immigration evolving as a major challenge globally

KATHMANDU: There are some 800 million immigrants around the world and among them, seven are directly benefited by immigration, according to a report by the International Labor Organization (ILO).

Immigrants generate over USD 613 billion in remittance annually. Among the total amount, USD 466 billion is received by developing and least-developed countries, according to the report. Nepal receives Rs 7 billion remittance annually and most of the amount is spent in the unproductive sector.

The report states immigration has improved the quality of life of people in developing countries while it has also invited many social problems.

Joint Secretary at Ministry for Labor, Employment and Social Security Ram Prasad Ghimire said that Nepal’s can’t remain unaffected from immigration.

“Immigration has evolved as a major common challenge globally,” the report states, “Developing countries are at the high risk.”

Joint Secretary at Ministry for Labor, Employment and Social Security Ram Prasad Ghimire said that Nepal’s can’t remain unaffected from immigration.

He adds that emigration from Nepal has been inviting different social complexities and hitting hard the domestic labor market.

According to the report, immigrants in the Middle East from South Asian countries are facing high exploitation. They are devoid of wages as per the international standard, the report adds.

“Nepal government has been formulating employment strategy to generate employment within the countries. Many youths are leaving the country as Nepal lacks employment opportunities,” he said, adding that Nepal’s labor market has been hit hard due to immigration.

ILO states that economic advantage from immigration has been more highlighted while more study needs to be carried out to find out negative social impacts created by it.

The report states that youths from Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand are leaving their home countries for foreign employment. Some 20 million youths leave for foreign employment annually.

According to the report, immigrants in the Middle East from South Asian countries are facing high exploitation. They are devoid of wages as per the international standard, the report adds.

ILO states that human trafficking is being executed from Nepal in the guise of a visit visa.