Nepal, UAE Step Up to Strengthen Labor Migration

In a move boosting Nepal Migrants employment opportunities in UAE, the Nepal Government and UAE have agreed to revise the existing labor agreement.

Nepal Labor, Employment & Social Security Minister Gokarna Bista and UAE Ambassador to Nepal Saeed Hamdan Al Naqei reached a decision to conduct the groundwork for the revision of the labor agreement at a meeting on September 26, 2018.

Developments of the meeting published by the Nepal Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security are as follows:

• Bista persuaded Naqei to create a ‘zero-recruitment fee’ environment for Nepali migrants while also adding that they should be insured round-the-clock and be given wages in accordance with the labor contract
• Health checkups should be accepted by all health institutions mandated by the government in accordance with the fixed standards
• Bista also pitched for continued coordination and bilateral talks between Nepal and UAE to ensure Nepali migrants’ welfare, availability of facilities provided by the UAE Government and assure the migrants a sense of pride and happiness

In turn, UAE Ambassador Naqei assured the Nepali Government that UAE was supportive towards their concerns and emphasized on the need for both countries’ mutual efforts to create an exceptional labor ecosystem.

Back in 2017, following a rift between Qatar and Saudi Arabia and a series of other events, Gulf countries witnessed a sharp decline in the number of Nepali Migrants applying for work permits to these countries. Migrant security and future in Gulf counties were fragile.

However, fast-forward to 2018, things seem to be promising in the wake of new developments such as the ‘revised labor agreement’ and hope from Nepal-Qatar collaborative projects.