KATHMANDU: Minister for Labor, Employment and Social Security Krishna Kumar Shrestha reaffirmed his commitment to not backtrack from the campaign to reform the foreign employment sector.

At a discussion held by his office Tuesday with stakeholders regarding preparation to hold the upcoming labor-related Joint Working Committee of Nepal and UAE, Minister Shrestha said that it was government’s prime responsibility to protect the lives of millions of youths offshore for foreign employment.

Stating that he has been working in result-oriented manner and in the best interest of the migrant workers, Shrestha called for cooperation from the stakeholders for safe migration for the Nepali youths. He warned that those exploiting and duping aspiring and working Nepali migrant workers would be brought to book.

According to him, Nepal in the upcoming Joint Working Committee with the UAE will prioritize issues such as hike in minimum wage for Nepali migrant workers, investment in skills development, reintegration and resettlement programmes, among others.

Similarly, Secretary at the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security Yek Narayan Aryal said that the ministry’s leadership was working seriously to address the weakness prevailing in the foreign employment sector in the country.

During the upcoming meeting with UAE government representatives, Nepal will pitch for agendas such as investing in the skills development centres in all seven provinces, health insurance for migrant workers, involving them in social security scheme and increasing minimum salary for them among others, according to Aryal.

Minister Shrestha is leading the Nepali delegation to the Nepal-UAE joint working committee meeting to be held in the UAE. The meeting aims to facilitate the implementation of the bilateral labor agreement reached between the two countries.