ILO Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific concluded his mission to Kathmandu with a sense of unequivocal support to and a great optimism for Nepal
The International Labour Organization's Assistant Director General and Regional Director, Mr Yoshiteru Uramoto, visited Nepal from 6 to 9 April 2014. The visit was part of his relentless commitment to reinforce relations with the ILO constituents at country level.
KATHMANDU (ILO News) – Improving the situation of Nepal’s migrant workers was high on the agenda of a three-day high level visit to Nepal by the ILO’S Assistant Director General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Mr Yoshiteru Uramoto.
In his first meeting with the Prime Minister, Hon. Sushil Koirala, Mr Uramoto conveyed his best wishes to the Prime Minister for a successful transition of Nepal into a stable, peaceful, democratic and prosperous nation. He highlighted some of the key initiatives taken by the ILO to address the touching conditions of Nepalese workers in Qatar. The ILO is sending a high level mission to Qatar to initiate dialogue with Qatari authority with a view to identify immediate and long term plan of actions to improve working conditions of migrant workers in the country. In addition Mr Uramoto suggested that ratifying additional ILO Conventions on freedom of association, social security and domestic work, would help Nepal work with migrant-receiving countries to deal with the problems and challenges of migrant workers. He also proposed that Nepal include labour migration on the agenda of the November 2014 summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which the country is hosting.
Mr Uramoto also briefed the Prime Minister on the continuing ASEAN Economic Integration (AEI) process, and underlined the need to develop Nepal’s human capital in order meet the challenges this would pose, and to enhance the country’s skills, productivity and competitiveness.
Mr Uramoto stated that regular dialogue between the Government, workers’ and employers’ representatives was key to creating an enabling environment for investment and job-rich economic growth.
Mr Uramoto also held wide-ranging discussions with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Hon. Tek Bahadur Gurung and the Secretary, Mr Suresh Man Shrestha. These included the rising number of fatal accidents involving Nepali migrant workers, possible ILO assistance in promoting safe migration and good labour migration governance, the opportunities presented by the globalization of employment, and the role of SAARC and the ASEAN member states. Mr Uramoto also expressed his appreciation for the Ministry’s valuable work in creating Nepal’s Decent Work Country Programme for 2013-2017.
Separate meetings were held with Mr Yuba Raj Bhusal, Member Secretary, National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr. Ganesh Gurung, former member of the NPC, Mr. Madhu Marasini, Chief, International Economic Cooperation Division, Ministry of Finance.
“Nepal could regain its economic momentum by harnessing its valuable human capital and the ILO is ready to support the Government of Nepal in areas such as developing labour market statistics, establishing labour market information system and promoting decent work within Nepal as well as in the labour receiving countries”, said Mr Uramoto.
At a meeting with Mr Laxman Basnet, the Secretary General of the South Asia Regional Trade Union Council (SARTUC), Mr Uramoto proposed the creation of a concrete strategy for cooperation between trade unions on labour migration and migrant workers’ protection. This, he said, would require action by and cooperation between trade unions in countries of origin and of destination, as well as common campaigns and interventions.
The Regional Director also held a number of other meetings with trade union leaders, including Mr Shalikram Jamkattel, Coordinator, All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF), Mr. Bishnu Rimal, President, General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), and Mr Khila Nath Dahal, President, Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC). They exchanged views on the contemporary issues and challenges related to workers’ rights, labour related legislations and policies and valued the ILO’s constant support in enhancing their institutional capacity and recapped for more and timely support from the ILO in the days to come.
Nepal’s business environment was discussed at a meeting with representatives of the Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), who highlighted their commitment to build an enabling business environment despite problems related to poor roads and electricity supplies, weak industrial relations, and gaps in laws and regulations. They also discussed the importance of strengthening tripartite relations, under the leadership of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, and FNCCI representatives requested ILO assistance to pursue this objective.
Mr Uramoto also stressed the strategic importance of including labour migration issues on the SAARC agenda during discussions with the SAARC Director, Mr Tareque Muhammad. He told Mr Muhammad that the ILO was ready to assist with this.
Director, ILO Country Office for Nepal
Tel.: +977 1 5555777
Email
In his first meeting with the Prime Minister, Hon. Sushil Koirala, Mr Uramoto conveyed his best wishes to the Prime Minister for a successful transition of Nepal into a stable, peaceful, democratic and prosperous nation. He highlighted some of the key initiatives taken by the ILO to address the touching conditions of Nepalese workers in Qatar. The ILO is sending a high level mission to Qatar to initiate dialogue with Qatari authority with a view to identify immediate and long term plan of actions to improve working conditions of migrant workers in the country. In addition Mr Uramoto suggested that ratifying additional ILO Conventions on freedom of association, social security and domestic work, would help Nepal work with migrant-receiving countries to deal with the problems and challenges of migrant workers. He also proposed that Nepal include labour migration on the agenda of the November 2014 summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which the country is hosting.
Mr Uramoto also briefed the Prime Minister on the continuing ASEAN Economic Integration (AEI) process, and underlined the need to develop Nepal’s human capital in order meet the challenges this would pose, and to enhance the country’s skills, productivity and competitiveness.
Mr Uramoto stated that regular dialogue between the Government, workers’ and employers’ representatives was key to creating an enabling environment for investment and job-rich economic growth.
Mr Uramoto also held wide-ranging discussions with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Hon. Tek Bahadur Gurung and the Secretary, Mr Suresh Man Shrestha. These included the rising number of fatal accidents involving Nepali migrant workers, possible ILO assistance in promoting safe migration and good labour migration governance, the opportunities presented by the globalization of employment, and the role of SAARC and the ASEAN member states. Mr Uramoto also expressed his appreciation for the Ministry’s valuable work in creating Nepal’s Decent Work Country Programme for 2013-2017.
Separate meetings were held with Mr Yuba Raj Bhusal, Member Secretary, National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr. Ganesh Gurung, former member of the NPC, Mr. Madhu Marasini, Chief, International Economic Cooperation Division, Ministry of Finance.
“Nepal could regain its economic momentum by harnessing its valuable human capital and the ILO is ready to support the Government of Nepal in areas such as developing labour market statistics, establishing labour market information system and promoting decent work within Nepal as well as in the labour receiving countries”, said Mr Uramoto.
At a meeting with Mr Laxman Basnet, the Secretary General of the South Asia Regional Trade Union Council (SARTUC), Mr Uramoto proposed the creation of a concrete strategy for cooperation between trade unions on labour migration and migrant workers’ protection. This, he said, would require action by and cooperation between trade unions in countries of origin and of destination, as well as common campaigns and interventions.
The Regional Director also held a number of other meetings with trade union leaders, including Mr Shalikram Jamkattel, Coordinator, All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF), Mr. Bishnu Rimal, President, General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), and Mr Khila Nath Dahal, President, Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC). They exchanged views on the contemporary issues and challenges related to workers’ rights, labour related legislations and policies and valued the ILO’s constant support in enhancing their institutional capacity and recapped for more and timely support from the ILO in the days to come.
Nepal’s business environment was discussed at a meeting with representatives of the Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), who highlighted their commitment to build an enabling business environment despite problems related to poor roads and electricity supplies, weak industrial relations, and gaps in laws and regulations. They also discussed the importance of strengthening tripartite relations, under the leadership of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, and FNCCI representatives requested ILO assistance to pursue this objective.
Mr Uramoto also stressed the strategic importance of including labour migration issues on the SAARC agenda during discussions with the SAARC Director, Mr Tareque Muhammad. He told Mr Muhammad that the ILO was ready to assist with this.
For further information please contact:
Mr Josė AssalinoDirector, ILO Country Office for Nepal
Tel.: +977 1 5555777