Kathmandu, June 17 : Following several rounds of talks carried out for months, Nepal and the United Arab of Emirates (UAE) have finally inked the revised bilateral pact on June 14.
The UAE ranks among the fourth major destination of Nepali migrant workers, with over 50,000 such workers flying to the this Gulf nation every year for jobs.
The deal was signed Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Gokarna Bista and Nasser Bin Thani Al Hamli, the UAE minister for human resources and emiratisation on the sidelines of the ongoing International Labour Organisation centenary celebrations in Geneva, Switzerland.
As per the newly reached deal, the UAE-based employers will bear all the costs related to recruitment, employment and residency of Nepali workers in the Gulf nation. The cost and fees will cover recruitment agency fees, air fare, insurance fees, visa fees, medical fees and other recruitment related costs which might appear during the process.
Likewise, the UAE government will ensure that Nepali workers do not have to pay any recruitment related costs and fees. It will also ensure the employment offer shall indicate the job specifications, required qualifications, types of jobs for which recruitment is proposed as well as the terms and conditions of employment offered, including wages, non-wage benefits, accommodation and transportation when applicable, end-of-service entitlement, and any other details required by the government of the UAE.
Additionally, the UAE government will look after the safety, security and welfare of Nepali workers with due regard to female workers
As per the labour deal, the Nepali workers will enjoy the freedom to change their jobs if the employer fails to meet contractual or legal obligations. In such circumstances, the worker can return to Nepal if s/he so wants.
Meanwhile, a joint committee represented by both the countries will be set up to ensure proper implementation of the programme and to determine other key items associated with the workers’ recruitment, employment and repatriation, including identification of all costs associated in the recruitment process, joint skills programmes.
