On International Migrants Day, ILO Nepal urges stronger protection of migrant workers’ rights

Kathmandu, Nepal (ILO News)- Migrant workers are vital drivers of development for Nepal and the global economy. International Migrants Day, observed annually on 18 December 2025, recognizes their significant contributions to countries of origin and destination while reaffirming the shared responsibility to protect their rights and dignity. Nepal observes International Migrants Day 2025 under the national theme 'Good Governance across the Labour Migration Cycle: Safer, Decent and Skillful Migration.'

According to the Labour Migration Status Report 2024, which was unveiled by the Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security on 18 December 2025, 5.7 million labour approvals were issued between fiscal years 2008/09 and 2023/24, with 1.51 million approvals recorded in the last two fiscal years alone. Women's labour migration continues to rise, accounting for 12.9 per cent of total approvals in 2023/24. While the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Malaysia remain the primary destinations, employment in Central and Eastern Europe has increased in recent years.

Representatives from government, development partners, social partners, civil society, and the media at the event marking International Migrants Day 2025.

Despite its economic significance, labour migration remains associated with serious risks. Data from the Foreign Employment Board show that more than 1,200 migrant worker deaths were reported in each of the last two fiscal years, alongside hundreds of cases of work-related injuries. Social protection coverage also remains limited. Between March 2023 and June 2025, over 1.65 million migrant workers, including 198,332 women, were enrolled in the Social Security Fund, yet continuation of contributions remains low.

Remarks by the ILO Country Director in Nepal, Mr. Numan Özcan, reaffirming our collective responsibility to protect the rights and dignity of migrant workers on the occasion of International Migrants Day 2025.

Numan Özcan, ILO Country Director in Nepal, speaking at a programme to mark the International Migrants Day organized by the Foreign Employment Board of Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS), highlighted the importance of strengthening governance across all stages of labour migration to ensure safety, dignity, and decent work for migrant workers.

ILO Nepal's work focuses on advancing fair recruitment, improving access to information and services, and expanding social protection coverage for migrant workers and their families. Over the past two years, this has translated into concrete results, including:

• Supporting a new policy framework: Provided technical support to MoLESS in developing the new Labour Migration Policy 2025, including a gap assessment of the Foreign Employment Policy 2012 and the integration of recommendations from ILO technical experts and a broad range of stakeholders.
• Strengthening labour migration governance: Advised the Government of Nepal on the negotiation, expansion and implementation of bilateral labour migration agreements, helping to embed better protections for migrant workers.
• Building negotiation capacity: In partnership with MoLESS and the ILO International Training Centre, delivered a 50-hour blended training on Bilateral Labour Migration Agreements for 30 representatives from government and social partners, enhancing their negotiation skills in line with international labour standards and supporting fair, gender-responsive labour migration agreements.
• Improving evidence for policymaking: Provided technical support to MoLESS for the development of the Labour Migration Status Report 2024.
• Reducing recruitment costs: Continued technical support to the National Statistics Office for a survey on recruitment costs borne by Nepali migrant workers, generating evidence to inform policies that lower costs and prevent abuse.
• Promoting fair recruitment practices: Strengthened the capacity of the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies and private recruitment agencies at federal and provincial levels on fair recruitment and due diligence.
• Informing and empowering migrant workers: Developed information materials and videos, and carried out awareness initiatives in key destination countries to ensure migrant workers are informed of their rights, responsibilities and key risks before departure and during their stay abroad.

These efforts, which were financially supported by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), contribute to strengthened governance and the promotion of decent work for all migrant workers, including women.

Honourable Labour Minister, Rajendra Singh Bhandari,(MoLESS), Dr. Krishna Hari Pushkar, Secretary, (MoLESS), Mr. Numan Özcan, Country Director, ILO Nepal, and Ms. Antonia Flueck, Programme Manager, SDC, during the event.

In line with the 2025 theme, ILO Nepal reaffirms its commitment to rights-based labour migration governance grounded in international labour standards and human rights principles, working closely with the Government of Nepal and social partners to ensure safe, fair, and well-supported migration.

Launch of the Labour Migration Status report 2024 by Honourable Rajendra Singh Bhandari, (MoLESS), on the occasion of International Migrants Day at the MoLESS.

Marking this day, ILO Nepal calls for strong, coordinated action to uphold migrant workers' rights, recognize their vital contributions, and ensure that labour migration is safe, decent, and delivers positive outcomes for migrant workers and their families.

For further information, please contact:

Nistha Rayamajhi

Communications Officer

https://www.ilo.org/nepal