Secretary-General Rai calls for equality and security at a conference on immigration in Bangkok

Kathmandu. The Asia Pacific Region Level Conference on Global Compact Migration has begun in Bangkok, Thailand. A total of 150 delegates are participating in the conference to be held from February 4 to 6.

Representatives of governments, NGOs and trade unions in the Asia-Pacific region are discussing various issues at the conference organized by UN ESCAP.

Around 20 labour leaders from the Asia-Pacific region are participating in the event. General Secretary of Nepal Trade Union Congress Ajay Kumar Rai participated on behalf of nepal’s union. On the first day of the day, he expressed his views on migrant workers at the United Nations Assembly Hall in Bangkok.
Pointing out the need for mutual understanding between different countries regarding immigration and immigration workers, he said that the rights and security of migrant workers should not be undermined. He stressed on the need to formulate relevant policies with the participation of migrant workers and trade unions representing the migrant community and implement the existing laws and regular monitoring. He pointed out the importance of ensuring protection of the rights of migrant workers.

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Similarly, General Secretary Rai said that Nepal’s controlled immigration system has limited women’s ability to access foreign employment at par with men. Stating that women migrant workers are facing worse working conditions and higher risk than men due to lack of equal access to insurance, pre-departure training and consular assistance, he stressed the need for the government to ensure equal access to labour migration for Nepali women.
At the same time, Rai also called for monitoring the agents and intermediaries to stop the practice of humiliating and discriminatory workers. He stressed on investing in skill development and skill identification to increase the employment and income potential of Nepali workers, implementing social security through agreements with destination countries, ratifying and implementing ILO conventions.

A government team led by Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security Dandu Ghimire is participating in the conference. Rai, general secretary of trade union Congress, is also participating in some side events on behalf of nepali workers. He has been selected by the International Trade Union International Trade Union of Confederation.
On behalf of the Confederation, senior officer of the Asia Pacific Region, Singapore Office of the Confederation, Dr. Fayamudin is doing the dice.

The conference will conclude by issuing a manifesto on the 6th. The ILO office in Nepal is working on social security for Nepali workers in the destination countries as well as supporting the Government of Nepal for a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries on behalf of the migrant workers, said Ronnie Pradhan Dhovdale of the ILO, Nepal Office.