KATHMANDU: On the occasion of International Migrants Day, various programs are organized throughout the world on December 18 this year as well.
The trend of migration started with the quest for safety or opportunity or a chance to reinvent the migrants in education. For this year’s celebration, the Ministry for Labor, Employment and Social Security has devised the slogan “ skill and employment, the foundation for economic prosperity”, whereas at global level International Organization for Migration (IOM) has initiated # We together campaign saying “ We play together, we dance together, we learn together, we create together, we work together.”
With globalization at its gaining momentum transport, communication technology, employment, and education are prompting people’s movement. The trend of heading to a foreign land for better business and employment opportunities is also at rise.
According to ILO report, out of 2.44 billion migrants 1.50 are the ones seeking employment opportunities. In gender, the males migrants are more than their female counterparts as the data reveals 52 percent are males and 48 percent females. In terms of age-group 70 percent belong to the age group 20-64.
The United Nations had passed a resolution on International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers on Dec. 1, 1990. However, Nepal started the celebration of the Day since 2000. In Nepal, the government of Nepal, has been observing the day in coordination with the national and international non-governmental organization, trade unions and the private sector.
The ILO researches show that more than 25 million South Asian migrant labors make many gulf and other countries their work destination. ILO report shows that more than 220 million labors turn into migrant labors every year. Nepal’s statistics show that 1 million youths turn migrant workers every year.
Out of 250 million people leaving their home in each four months, more than 220 million desert their native land for employment and education.
Visiting different places, haunting lucrative jobs in foreign land, seek better place for better education opportunities, refugee and migration from one place to another are key factors influencing migration in Nepal.
According to Umesh Dhungana, the joint secretary and the head of foreign employment department at the Ministry of Labor, Nepal has tried to ensure safer and better migration by making labor deal as mandatory.
Migration history in Nepal Araniko- to Foreign Employment
Nepali had started going to India and China by 1260 AD. Nearly 759 years ago, Araniko had led his team of 80 sculptors to Tibet. Senior culture expert and scholar, Satya Mohan Joshi in his book about the labor history, has regarded it as the first formal labor migration to China.
Although most of the Nepali headed to various neighboring places like Sikkim, Asam, Bhutan, Myanmar and Tibet and chose agriculture, animal husbandry, tea farming, mining or factory as the sectors for their employment now they are spread to more than 189 countries of the world.
The trend of becoming lahure is said to have started since Lahore’s King Ranjit Singh’s time in 1809 AD. Then some youths were recruited as soldiers in the king’s army and later were called lahure, coming back from Lahore (part of Punjab then). However, Nepali youths were recruited in British Army after the Sugauli Treaty, the outcome of Nepal British War (1814-16). The recruitment in British Army is continued till date.
4.4 Million Youths on Foreign Employment
Various research carried out on foreign employment show that the trend of going out for employment got intensified since 1990s. Taking advantage of the open border with India many people have reached to Bangladesh, China, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Only the labors with work permit approval are booked as migrant labors in the government record.
According to the government statistics, nearly 600 thousand youths go to other countries besides India every year. Since FY 050/51 to 076/77 nearly 6.1 million youths have set out for foreign employment with work permit approval, out of which 900 thousand are women.
Merits and demerits of Migration
Together with the outflow of the youths as migrant workers, the news about the exploitation, sexual abuse and human trafficking is getting more common. Owing to the harsh work environment in average 3 dead bodies are received at the international airport. Informal sources are skeptic about the date provided by the Department of Foreign Employment and claim the number to be more than 7 every day.
According to the government record, 10000 Nepali migrant workers have lost their lives in last 11 years. This shows the trauma the relatives and other people have to go through is far from being addressed. As social problem the loss of interest in seeking employment opportunities inside is becoming a serious problem. The cultivable lands are lying barren, the quest for internal job is discarded in temptation of getting better jobs, which can bring dire consequences in long run. Not only this, many families are split due to the migrant labor trends. Internal labor market is surviving in the foreign workers.
In Nepal’s Gross Domestic Product, the contribution of remittance is 29 percent. Migration has impacted social, economic and cultural structure making it necessary to restructure or redefine these structures.
With nearly 56 percent households having someone engaged in foreign employment and nearly 1200 youths leaving the country every day, Dr. Ganesh Gurung, a foreign employment expert thinks, the challenge of making this sector safer, more organized and dignified is increasing day by day.
Migration to Refugees
Due to globalization, the people set out from their country of origin as migrant labor are later found to change their status in the destination country and apply for their refugee status. The developed countries are striving hard to address the issue. In case of Nepalis, many Nepali youths gone to Japan, Canada, America and European countries are said to have applied for or taken the status of refugees in those countries which has ultimately, led the ‘destination’ countries adopt strict provisions at the entry of the prospective migrant workers from such countries. 10 percent of the people gone out from their countries in search of employment and education opportunities are said to have applied for refugee status.
The refugee pressure in Europe ignited by the conflict in African countries is said to have compelled those countries to seek alternative measures.
In the context of Nepal, dozens of organizations, under the guidance and collaboration of the organizations like International Labor Organization, are working to address the issues of migrant workers.
In the meantime, on the eve of International Migrants’ Day celebration, Antonio Guaterres, the Secretary General of United Nations has issued a message stating that migrants are integral members of society, contributing to mutual understanding and sustainable development in communities of both origin and destination. Citing that all migrants are entitled to equal protection of all their human rights, he has urged leaders and people everywhere to bring the Global Compact to life so that migration works for all.
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