Kathmandu: The Embassy of Nepal in Colombo marked International Migration Day and Nepal Labour Week on December 22 by organizing a dialogue programme focusing on Nepali labour migrants in the Maldives.
The event brought together Nepali migrant workers currently working in the Maldives, policymakers, and experts to discuss their lived realities, key challenges, and policy priorities. Discussions covered issues such as arrival procedures, visa and wage challenges, working conditions, remittances, documentation, and overall wellbeing.
The programme began with remarks by Dr. Purna Bahadur Nepal, Ambassador of Nepal, who highlighted Nepal’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of migrant workers and promoting evidence-based, people-centred migration governance. Sazar Bhandari, First Secretary, introduced the theme, “Honoring the Contribution of Migrants and Respecting Their Rights.”
A key feature of the event was a virtual session in which Nepali nationals living and working in the Maldives joined via Google Meet and shared their experiences directly with participants.
Later, Vijay Kumar Raut, Deputy Chief of Mission, presented key findings from a Strategic Engagement Paper, followed by an interactive feedback session with experts and stakeholders.
Distinguished participants included representatives from the Institute of Policy Studies Sri Lanka, International Labour Organization (ILO), IOM, Jeevan Vigyan Foundation, and Nepal Helpline. Discussions focused on ethical recruitment, bilateral cooperation, remittances, pre-departure orientation, insurance mechanisms, public diplomacy, and mental health.
The programme concluded with closing remarks by the Ambassador, reaffirming the Embassy’s commitment to continued dialogue, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and practical policy measures to enhance the welfare of Nepali migrant workers abroad, particularly in the Maldives.
