Malaysia is one of Asia's biggest employers of foreign labour. But recently, cases of deaths, abuse and forced labour have come to light. What is going on? Who is protecting these migrant workers?
In a programme, organised here today by Nepali Society UAE, Minister of State
Lekhak said, "Ministers of both the Malaysia and UEA have expressed consent
on Nepali proposal to forge labor agreement."
<p>He also informed that the governments of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain had informed
that they would not act in this matter immediately because they had not signed
labor agreement with any other country.</p>
<p>He added that each year more than 175 Nepali workers are losing their lives
in Gulf country, Qatar.</p>
<p>Stating that labors, going to foreign employment, are covered with insurance
for one year and the arrangement is ineffective, he said government would make
new arrangement to extend the insurance period to cover the entire period of
employment.</p>
<p>He said previous arrangement for minimum wage is also inadequate and impractical
and government is reconsidering the matter.</p>
<p>Stating that foreign employment has become essential measure for employment
to Nepali youth, he said though some of them were engaged in better jobs others
had to engage in burdensome work in unfair wages.</p>
<p>He informed that discussion has been taking place with Ministry of Finance
to establish Risk Management Fund to help in bringing dead bodies of Nepali
workers that die in foreign country.</p>
<p>On the occasion, President of Nepali Society UAE, Rameshwor Shah said an eleven-point
memorandum had been presented to the Prime and urged the government to take
initiative to have direct air linkage between Nepal and UAE.</p>
<p><i>Source: http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/content.php?nid=21513</i>
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