March 30: Issara Nepal, a non-governmental organisation, has launched an app, 'Ujjwal Sapana' targeting migrant workers.

 Joint-secretary Rajib Pokharel at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security and the executive director at Issara Institute jointly launched the app recently. 

The app will provide up to date information related to migrant workers, labour law and rights, manpower companies, employers, and service providers. 

The app is available in Nepali, Burmese and Khamer. Joint secretary Pokharel said foreign employment is a compulsion for Nepali people. 

"We have to depend on foreign employments until we create jobs within the country. So, there is a need to properly manage foreign employment," he said. 

Pokharel stressed the need to bring all migrant workers onboard the social security fund, and create employment opportunities within the country where skills learnt in foreign lands cane be utilized.

Stating that the Ministry working to formulate worker-friendly Foreign Employment Act that, Pokharel  said a five-year strategy to this effect has been in place.

Nepal sent around 25 percent people for foreign employment on an annual basis in the past, said immigration expert Keshab Basyal.

General Secretary Laxman Basnet  at South Asian Regional Trade Union Council stressed the need for the app to have the government's standards on foreign employments.