Labour MoU with UAE to be signed in July

The Minister for Labour and Transport Management Ramesh Lekhak highlighted the need to early conclusion of the MOU between Nepal and United Arab Emirates for streamlining the recruitment and safeguarding the interest of the workers.

During his meeting with Minister for Labour of UAE Ali Bin Abdullah Alkaabi, on the sidelines of the 96th International Labour Conference in Geneva on June 8, Lekhak said that Nepal has forwarded the comments on the draft MOU to the UAE side and asked for early conclusion of the agreement. He invited the Minister for a visit to Nepal to sign the MOU, according to a press release issued by Nepalese Permanent Mission in Geneva.

UAE Minister expressed that Nepalese workers are highly regarded in UAE and appreciated their honesty and professionalism. He said that there is potentially good scope of Nepalese as security guards and semi-skilled workers. "Expressing his eagerness to visit Nepal as early as possible, he expressed his readiness for early finalisation of the draft and fixation of date of signing ceremony some time in the first week of July," the press release adds.

During the meeting, Lekhak also apprised the UAE Minister about the recent Job Fair that Nepal organised in Dubai and appreciated the enormous interest shown by the recruiting agencies from the region.

Earlier, Lekhak, met with Director General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Juan Samavia, on June 8. During the meeting, Minister Lekhak conveyed the greetings from the Right Honourable Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to the Director General and his Organisation for the success of the 96th International Labour Conference.

During the meeting, Lekhak briefed that the Interim Constitution of Nepal has recognised right to work as one of the fundamental rights of the citizen. He told the Director General that process of ratification of ILO Conventions no. 87 and 105 is under active consideration of the Government of Nepal which will soon be produced to the parliament for approval once the internal procedures are completed.

Stating that elimination of child labor and freeing of bonded labour as some of the issues in Nepal that are closely related to the peace building process, he expressed gratitude to ILO for their support in these vital areas of Nepal's priority. He asked the Director General for extension of further assistance and continuation of the cooperation in these areas.

Senior Officials from the Government, officials from the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations office in Geneva and trade union leaders attending the 96th International Labour Conference were also present during the meeting.

In reply, the Director General of ILO, Dr. Samavia, said ILO always support the oppressed people and their resistance to authoritarianism and commended the leaders and people of Nepal for coming together for the establishment of democracy. He assured that ILO will always be by the side of Nepal to extend possible cooperation.

Minister Lekhak is in Geneva along with high-ranking government officials and trade union leaders to attend 96th International Labour Conference. nepalnews.com sd Jun 10 07