MiRiDew - Migrant Rights and Decent Work

Labour migration is a key feature of the Nepali economy, contributing to more than 20% of GDP. The top destinations for Nepali migrant workers are Malaysia and the Gulf States. While migration has the potential to contribute to the socio-economic development both in countries of origin and destination, concerns remain about the associated social and economic costs borne by the migrant workers. Migrant workers often suffer from human rights abuses, labour exploitation and financial distress due to accumulated debts throughout the journey. Women migrant workers are at a disproportionate risk of facing abuses in recruitment and employment.

The Government of Nepal has strived to work towards ensuring safe labour migration for Nepali. However, gaps remain in terms of revision and implementation of policies, horizontal and vertical coordination amongst stakeholders, and gender-responsive policies. In addition, capacities of public service providers and service seekers are often limited, in terms of knowledge, language and digital literacy for example.

Direct target group:

Government of Nepal – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and their diplomatic missions and consulates in countries of destination and the Ministry of Labour Employment and Social Security.

Indirect target group:

Migrant workers, particularly women.

Outcome 1)    The Government of Nepal strengthens its policy framework and institutional mechanisms to ensure protection of the rights of migrant workers, in particular women migrant workers.

Outcome 2)    Nepali migrant workers in countries of destinations have increased access to information and quality migration services.

Expected results:  

Output 1.1)    The Government of Nepal and concerned stakeholders have institutional and human capacity to strengthen the national policy and legislative framework on labour migration.

Output 1.2)    The Government of Nepal reviews, designs and implements bilateral labour migration agreements and engages in regional and global policy dialogues.

Output 2.1)    Nepali diplomatic missions and consulates in countries of destination have the capacity to provide quality services to migrant workers.

Output 2.2)    Migrant workers have information about the diversity of migration services in countries of destination.

Results from previous phases:  

Data management: Draft monitoring and reporting framework on labour migration related to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicators and targets elaborated.

Bilateral labour agreements (BLAs): Technical support provided for negotiations with countries of destination (CoDs) on existing and new BLAs, ensuring alignment to international labour standards. Detailed labour market analysis completed for 6 new potential CoDs, paving the way for new BLAs.

Services for migrant workers: Guideline developed to train staff in Nepali diplomatic missions and consulates, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

COVID-19 pandemic response: Assistance to over 47,300 Nepali migrant workers in CoDs in terms of immediate health and shelter support, repatriation and paralegal services to address violation of labour rights.

Key learnings: Projects largely depending on the engagement of the government requires substantial engagement and progress will usually be slow. A project advisory committee would facilitate government engagement and increase ownership. Complementarity and coordination with other SDC funded projects can be further improved in future.

SDC Nepal: Safer Migration; Reintegration of Returnee Migrants; Strengthening of Employment Service Centres in Nepal; Enhanced Skills for Sustained and Rewarding Employment; Digital Innovation for Growth and Inclusion.

SDC regional/global: GOALS; FAIR; IRIS; DWSA; SPPFM; joint UN project GCM.