KATHMANDU, August 12: The government-appointed expert panel submitted the draft of the Labour Migration Policy to the Minister for Labour, Employment, and Social Security, Sarad Singh Bhandari, on Sunday.

Coordinator of the expert panel, Dr. Ganesh Gurung, presented the report, explaining that the national policy draft was developed with a vision of ensuring safe, secure, and dignified labour migration, while also focusing on internal employment and prosperity.

Upon receiving the draft, Minister Bhandari expressed confidence in its potential to shape the national labour migration policy. He pledged to implement the draft as part of the government's policy framework and commended the team for addressing the challenges facing the labour migration sector.

Minister Bhandari emphasized the need for the policy to prioritize orderly labour migration, support the reintegration of returnees, and develop human resources to meet global market demands.

"Thousands of people are going abroad every day. This won't be stopped by speeches or blame games. The alternative to employment is better employment. Nepali migrants deserve respect and decent wages. We must focus on our foreign migration and foreign policy to achieve this," he remarked.

The draft, prepared over nine months by the Gurung-led team, includes six policies, 24 strategies, and 113 procedures to address those strategies.

During the handover, Dr. Gurung highlighted that the policy aims to make foreign labour migration a choice for Nepalis by creating opportunities for self-employment within the country. -- RSS