Moreover, if the migrant workers wish to go to other countries besides the enlisted ones then the government does not provide permits for the same.

Despite this mandate, Nepali migrant workers are employed in more than 189 countries and the Himalayan nation received remittances from 17 new job destinations, including Antigua, Barbuda, Bosnia, Burundi, Cuba, Curacao, Falkland Islands, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Haiti, Herzegovina, Iran, Sierra Islands and Solomon Islands.

This trend is being observed for a last couple of years, leading to a gradual growth in Nepal’s remittances from some new countries.

According to Nepal Rastra Bank data, Nepal remittances increased in the last five years by 33.9 percent.

Furthermore, statistics furnished by the Department of Foreign Employment (DFE) reveals that around 37,00,000 Nepali workers are employed in various world nations.

Considering the above government norm, it has been observed that Nepal migrant workers go abroad for employment using two means – an organizational process through manpower agencies and an informal process viable through personal contacts.

And in other possibilities, Nepali workers move from country to country to apply for jobs during their employment tenure outside Nepal.

Surprisingly, Nepali workers by means of manpower agencies took employment in 110 countries and on the other hand workers applying for jobs via personal contacts visited as many as 172 countries.

A Nepal Rastra Bank spokesperson Laxmi Panna Niraula advocates that if remittances are the criteria, then Nepali workers have reached 189 countries.

Therefore, it is essential that if the Nepal Government wants to see a continued growth in its remittances, then it needs to increase the scope of its official permits to foreign employment in various countries.

The post Nepal Source of Remittances – A Glance at the Current Scenario, Scope of Growth and Beyond appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

The report titled ‘Current Microeconomic and Financial Situation of the Country’ assessed the country’s remittance flows in the first three months of the current fiscal.

According to the report, remittance inflows into Nepal have grown by a record 37.3 percent to
Rs 242.17 billion over the first three months of FY 2018-19.

The remittance growth rate was only 2.6 percent during the corresponding period of the last year.

This growth continues to exist despite a significant decline in the rate of Nepali workers migrating abroad for jobs or any other purpose. This is majorly attributed to stopping of workers to Malaysia, says NRB.

According to the Central Bank, around 58,713 Nepalis left the country for foreign jobs during the three-month period, however, showing a 36.7 percent decline in the overall worker migration rate.

Rise in remittances was majorly attributed to the rise in USD value vis-à-vis Nepali Rupee besides money sent by migrant Nepalis to their local family members for festival celebrations, adds the report.

Despite this positive trend in remittances, the country’s Balance of Payment (BoP) continues to be high at NPR 35.42 billion in the review period compared to BoP surplus of NPR 4.27 billion year-on-year.

According to government reports, rise in imports has impacted key macroeconomic indicators.

On the other side, the current account also saw a deficit of NPR 81.96 billion in the review period, compared to NPR 25.52 billion, year-on-year.

The country has received a capital transfer of NPR 3.55 billion, down from NPR 4.96 billion in the review period, while its Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has also declined to Rs 1.54 billion from
Rs 6.07 billion in the review period.

Total government expenditure during the review period stands at NPR 170.95 billion, more than from NPR 138.84 billion year-on-year. Capital expenditure went on to NPR 18.78 billion from NPR 11.64 billion, year-on-year.

The recurrent expenditure was at Rs 149.57 billion in the first three months of the FY 2018-19, down from Rs 126.35 billion, year-on-year.

Adding to the concerns, imports have also grown highly despite the government’s announcement to control. Goods and Services imports increased 43.6 percent to Rs 373.59 billion during the review period compared to the year-on-year rise of 17.9 percent. Whereas, the export growth remains low.

Surprisingly, the statistics remain in contrast to the Nepal Government’s claims over improvement in ‘ease of doing business’!

The post Remittances to Nepal On Rise, Other Deficits Continue! appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

In this regard, the Ministry of Health held discussions with the UN Migration Agency, International Organization for Migration (IOM), in Kathmandu on October 12, 2017.

Speaking on the matter, the IOM Nepal Chief of Mission Paul Norton said the Sustainable Development Goal 3.8 on universal health coverage cannot be achieved without addressing the health needs of migrants and refugees.

“This policy will provide an opportunity to promote a more coherent and integrated approach to heal, beyond the treatment of specific diseases for all populations, including migrants, irrespective of their legal and migratory status,” Norton added.

In its statement, IOM informed that the policy would address health concerns of the Nepali migrants at all stages of the migrant process while also protecting host communities from public health threats related to migration.

NMHP is part of the project, ‘Strengthening Government Capacity in the Development and Implementation of a National Strategic Action Plan on Migration and Health in Nepal,’ put forth by IOM in collaboration with the Nepali Health Ministry, and is funded by IOM Development Fund.

Migrants Key to Nepali Economy

According to IOM, Nepali migrants have made a major contribution towards the economic development of Nepal.

As per the Department of Foreign Employment, over 50 percent of all the Nepalis households currently have at least one migrant from their family living abroad or in Nepal as a returnee.

In terms of remittance-receiving countries, Nepal stands 23^rd in global ranking and 3^rd in terms of the contribution to GDP through remittances after Tajikistan and Kyrgyz Republic, IOM informed.

UN agencies, Nepali Government officials, development partners, academia, NGO, private sector firms and media are among those who attended the meeting.

The post Nepali Migrants: National Migration Health Policy on Cards appeared first on Nepali Sansar.