KATHMANDU, July 24: The Government of Nepal is planning to start special counselling sessions for the Nepali migrant workers seeking employment in South Korea as the number of Nepalis committing suicide and suffering from depression rises every year.

The counselling sessions will be held in collaboration with the Government of Korea, said Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Gokarna Bista during a program organised by the Korean Embassy in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

Over 75 migrants have died in South Korea due to various reasons form 2008 to 2017, according to Labor Migration for Employment: A Status Report for Nepal, a report made public in May last year.

Of them, according to EPS Korea Department, Gwarkho, at least 20 Nepali migrant workers committed suicide in the past six years. The statistics shows that, four Nepalis working in South Korea committed suicide in 2012, two in 2013, one in 2015, three in 2016, eight in 2017 and two in 2018.

“The increasing trend in suicide among the Nepali migrants and those who have returned is worrisome. The social social cost of labor migration is troubling particularly in terms of family breakdown and divorces and parenting void in parenting void for the children who are left behind,” said Kim Yong Kuk, dean of Asian Culture Center in Korea told the Himalayan Times.

Nepali migrants take their lives in South Korea because of the work pressure, mismatch in their expectations and the ground reality in the foreign land, among others.

The issue of the increasing trend in suicide needs an in-depth investigation, said Krishna Prasad Khanal, director of EPS Korea Section under Department of Foreign Employment.

The major causes of increasing rate in suicide is shocking mental health of the migrants, loneliness, homesickness and excessive fear for no apparent reasons.

There is a sharp rise in the number of deaths of Nepali migrant workers in foreign land, with the number rising from 821 in 2017 from 755 in 2016.

The Labor Migration Report states that the highest number  of deaths–which was 2,154– was reported in Malaysia.

The total number of deaths of Nepali migrants in foreign land from 2008-09 to 2016-17 stood at 5,892. While 1,152 died due to cardiac arrest, 650 (543 males and 7 females) had committed suicide.

The highest number of deaths were reported in 2014/15.

Gulf countries, Malaysia and South Korea are the most favored destinations for Nepali workers.

More than five lakh Nepalis go abroad seeking foreign employment every year, according to a report recently released by National Human Rights Commission.

The number of Nepali migrant workers surged from 3,605 to 5,19,638 from the the fiscal year 1993/94 (2050/51 BS) to 2013/14 (2070/71 BS). Till mid-June 2019 (2076 Jestha 30), a total of 45,99,567 Nepalis were allowed work permit for foreign employment, the report states. Of them, 2,18,273 are women workers.

Of the total migrant workers, 96 percent has gone to Gulf Countries (the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait) and Malaysia while remaining 4 percent went to other countries.

According to Foreign Employment Department, till mid-June 2019, 12,67,745 Nepali migrant workers went to Qatar. Of them, 12,48,491 are men and 19,254 are women. Likewise, 13,20,989 (12,90,924 men and 30,065 women) went to Malaysia; 9,22,259 (9,13,938 men and 8,321 women) went to Saudi Arabia; 6,28,921 (5,69,795 men and 59,126 women) went to United Arab Emirates; 1,56,262 (1,13,585 men and 42,677 women) went to Kuwait; 56,111 (51,666 men and 4,445 women) went to Bahrain; 37,706 (31,989 men and 5,717 woment) went to Oman; 62,304 (58,593 men and 3,711 women) went to South Korea; 12,773 (1,231 men and 11,542 women) went to Lebanon; 6,851 (2,323 men and 4,492 women) went to Israel; 13,638 (13,586 men and 52 women) went to Afghanistan; 19,278 (18,272 men and 1,006 women) went to Japan; and 94,766 (66,901 men and 27,865 women) went to other countries.

Likewise, Only 1 percent of the migrant workers are well-qualified, according to the report. 14 percent are qualified, 12 percent are semi-qualified and 74 percent are not qualified.

Similarly, 90 percent of the migrant workers went to work in the foreign countries through man power companies and 10 percent via personal work permit.

Related Coverage:

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Nepali migrant workers sent home 8.1 billion dollars in 2018: World Bank

Nepal government has banned Nepali migrant workers from working in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria. The government allows work permit to the following countries only:

1. Albania
2. Algeria
3. Argentina
4. Armenia
5. Australia
6. Austria
7. Azerbaijan
8. Bahrain
9. Bangladesh
10. Belarus
11. Belgium
12. Bolivia
13. Bosnia and Herzegovina
14. Brazil
15. Brunei
16. Bulgaria
17. Canada
18. Chile
19. China
20. Colombia
21. Cambodia
22. Congo
23. Costa Rica
24. Croatia
25. Cuba
26. Cyprus
27. Czech Republic
28. Denmark
29. Egypt
30. Estonia
31. Fiji
32. Finland
33. France
34. Germany
35. Great Britain
36. Greece
37. Guiana
38. Holy See
39. Hong Kong
40. Hungary
41. Iceland
42. Indonesia
43. Iran
44. Ireland
45. Israel
46. Italy
47. Japan
48. Jordan
49. Kazakhstan
50. Kenya
51. Kosovo
52. Kuwait
53. Laos PDR
54. Latvia
55. Lebanon
56. Luxemburg
57. Macau
58. Malaysia
59. Maldives
60. Malta
61. Macedonia
62. Mexico
63. Moldova
64. Mongolia
65. Mauritius
66. Morocco
67. Mozambique
68. Myanmar
69. Netherlands
70. New Zealand
71. Nicaragua
72. Nigeria
73. Norway
74. Oman
75. Pakistan
76. Panama
77. Peru
78. Poland
79. Portugal
80. Qatar
81. Republic of Korea
82. Republic of Slovak
83. Rumania
84. Russia
85. Saipan
86. Saudi Arabia
87. Singapore
88. Slovenia
89. South Africa
90. Spain
91. Sri Lanka
92. Sweden
93. Switzerland
94. Seychelles
95. Tanzania
96. Thailand
97. The Philippines
98. Tunisia
99. Turkey
100. Uganda
101. Ukraine
102. United Arab Emirates
103. United States (America)
104. Uzbekistan
105. Venezuela
106. Vietnam
107. Zambia

Nepali workers does not need work permit to work in India.

Moreover, According to Migration and Development Brief by World Bank released on April this year, Nepal is the 19th largest receiver of remittance around the world and fourth largest in South Asia—with Nepali migrant workers sending home $8.1 billion.Nepal is also among the top five recipient smaller economies along with Tonga, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Haiti.

RECORD HIGH REMITTANCES SENT GLOBALLY IN 2018

Remittances to low- and middle-income countries reached a record high in 2018- with $529 billion in 2018, an increase of 9.6 percent over the previous record high of $483 billion in 2017. The remittance flows to low- and middle-income countries are likely to reach $550 billion in 2019, to become their largest source of external financing.

Nepal is the 19^th largest receiver of remittance around the world and fourth largest in South Asia, with Nepali migrant workers sending home $ 8.1 billion, according to Migration and Development Brief by World Bank released on Monday. Nepal is also among the top five recipient smaller economies along with Tonga, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Haiti.

Remittances to South Asian Countries increased by an estimated 12.3 percent to $ 131 billion in 2018— outpacing the 6 percent growth in 2017. India was the top remittance recipients with $79 billion, followed by China ($67 billion), Mexico ($36 billion), the Philippines ($34 billion), and Egypt ($29 billion), the report states.

In South Asia, India was followed by Pakistan ($21 billion) and Bangladesh ($15.5 billion) and Sri Lanka ($7.5 billion). India saw remittances grew by over 14 percent in 2018. In Pakistan, remittance growth remained moderate (6.7 percent). In Bangladesh, remittances showed a brisk uptick in 2018 (14.8 percent), and Sri Lanka witnessed remittance growth of 3.8 percent, the report further reads.

The remittance in South Asian Countries is projected to slow to 4.3 percent in 2019 due to a moderation of growth in high-income economies and slower migration to the GCC countries.

According to the report, record high remittances were sent globally in 2018. Remittances to low- and middle-income countries reached a record high in 2018- with $529 billion in 2018, an increase of 9.6 percent over the previous record high of $483 billion in 2017. Global remittances, which include flows to high-income countries, reached $689 billion in 2018, up from $633 billion in 2017.

The overall increase was driven by a stronger economy and employment situation in the United States and a rebound in outward flows from some Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the Russian Federation, the report states.

The remittance flows to low- and middle-income countries are likely to reach $550 billion in 2019, to become their largest source of external financing.

Remittance flows grew in all six regions, particularly in South Asia (12.3 percent) and Europe and Central Asia (11.2 percent), the report states.

Remittances to the East Asia and Pacific region grew almost 7 percent to $143 billion in 2018, faster than the 5 percent growth in 2017. Remittances to the Philippines rose to $34 billion, but growth in remittances was slower due to a drop in private transfers from the GCC countries. Flows to Indonesia increased by 25 percent in 2018, after a muted performance in 2017.

After posting 22 percent growth in 2017, remittances to Europe and Central Asia grew an estimated 11 percent to $59 billion in 2018. Continued growth in economic activity increased outbound remittances from Poland, Russia, Spain, and the United States, major sources of remittances to the region. Smaller remittance-dependent countries in the region, such as the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, benefited from the sustained rebound of economic activity in Russia. Ukraine, the region’s largest remittance recipient, received a new record of more than $14 billion in 2018, up about 19 percent over 2017. This surge in Ukraine also reflects a revised methodology for estimating incoming remittances, as well as growth in neighboring countries’ demand for migrant workers.

Remittances flows into Latin America and the Caribbean grew 10 percent to $88 billion in 2018, supported by the strong US economy. Mexico continued to receive the most remittances in the region, posting about $36 billion in 2018, up 11 percent over the previous year. Colombia and Ecuador, which have migrants in Spain, posted 16 percent and 8 percent growth, respectively. Three other countries in the region posted double-digit growth: Guatemala (13 percent) as well as Dominican Republic and Honduras (both 10 percent), reflecting robust outbound remittances from the United States.

Remittances to the Middle East and North Africa grew 9 percent to $62 billion in 2018. The growth was driven by Egypt’s rapid remittance growth of around 17 percent. Beyond 2018, the growth of remittances to the region is expected to continue, albeit at a slower pace of around 3 percent in 2019 due to moderating growth in the Euro Area.

Remittances to Sub-Saharan Africa grew almost 10 percent to $46 billion in 2018, supported by strong economic conditions in high-income economies. Looking at remittances as a share of GDP, Comoros has the largest share, followed by the Gambia, Lesotho, Cabo Verde, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Togo, Ghana, and Nigeria.

The reports further states that the global average cost of sending remittances remained at about 7 percent in the first quarter of 2019, roughly the same level as in recent quarters. The cost of sending money to Sub Saharan Africa was 9.3 percent, significantly higher than the SDG target of 3 percent. Banks were the costliest channel for transferring remittances, at an average cost of 10.9 percent.

Another factor making money transfer costs rise are banks’ efforts to avoid money-laundering and terrorism finance. Some banks simply cease working with some money transfer organisations deemed too risky, according to the report.

The deployment of workers from South Asia in the GCC countries has plunged, according to the report. According to Nepal Rastriya Bank, the departure of Nepali migrant plunged 39.2 percent in the first seven months of the fiscal year, which is a 4.9 percent drop compared to last year.

Japan has brought a new policy to admit 345,000 foreign workers over a period of 5 years from the following nine priority countries: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Latin America is facing several migratory movements from Central America and Venezuela. Since 2015, around 2.7 million persons have left Venezuela for other countries, especially in South America, the report states.

KATHMANDU, April 2: Malaysian-bound Nepali migrant workers can hope to travel to the destination country for employment soon as the government on Monday started issuing work permits to the Malaysia-bound Nepali migrant workers who have received calling visas—confirmation about the job from the employers in Malaysia– from Monday, according to Department of Foreign Employment.

Malaysia has remained as one of the most preferred destinations for Nepali migrant workers beside the nations of Gulf Corporation Council.

According to the DoFE, the labor offices is issuing work permits to about 7,000 migrant workers who have already received calling visas from Malaysia employment agencies.

The government had stopped issuing permits to workers in May 2018 after the workers were found being overcharged charged by private companies. The government launched a crackdown on the agencies collecting unnecessary fees and declaring those agencies and their services illegal, leading to a suspension of labor migration to Malaysia.

Despite Nepal and Malaysia signed a milestone labor agreement in October last year, the government had not yet resumed issuing work permit to Malaysia-bound workers as the government of Malaysia had not sent the workers’ health check-up standard.

According to the agreement signed between Nepal and Malaysia, Nepali migrant workers aspiring to work in Malaysia do not have to pay any fees for the job there. The expenses on behalf of Nepali workers including recruitment service charge, two-way tickets, visa fee, medical check-up, and security screening would be borne by employers, while initial costs invested for medical check-up and security screening will be refunded to the workers in the first month of their job in Malaysia.

The agreement also decreased the labor contract period to two years from three years. Similarly, the monthly salary of the workers will be deposited in the bank account of the worker at the end of the first week of every month.

The labor agreement also allows Nepali workers to return to Nepal on 15 days leave if any immediate family members die. The pact also gives employer responsibility to send dead bodies of workers back to Nepal.

The agreement also states that the Nepali workers have the pay service charge to the recruitment agencies equivalent to the amount to 15 days of salary, but they do not need to pay any money to the Nepal-based manpower companies.

The Malaysian government on March 23 had sent medical examination standard paving way for the implementation of the labor pact reached between the two countries.