WMW Empowerment Project

WMW Empowerment Project

Migration in the context of foreign employment is not a recent global phenomenon but it is distinctly becoming a regional phenomenon. As per the Human Development Report 2009, there were over 200 million international migrants moving from one country to another with estimate of 50 million living and working abroad with irregular status. Globally, women constitute 48 % of the total international migrant population, but in countries of origin, such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka, women accounted for some 60 to 80 % of migrant workers abroad between 2000 and 2003. In the Nepalese context, approximately 3.2 million Nepalese are working in 77 different countries out of 107 countries those are opened for foreign labour migration. As per the Census of 2001, 82,712 Nepali women are migrants. The current population of the Nepali women migrant workers (WMWs) is at 15% of the total Nepali migrants. The Nepal Living Standard Survey (NLSS) 2004 have indicated that poverty has reduced by 11% for which remittance could have played a major role. The same survey shows that 11 % of Nepali WMWs are contributing to the total remittance. Furthermore, the poverty incidence have decline further to 21% since 2004 which otherwise would have been at 27% without the contribution of the remittance. The Nepal Labour Force Survey 2009 has stated that 30% of Nepali households are receiving remittances. It is clear that migrant remittances, investments and newly acquired skills of returnees termed as social remittance can potentially contribute to the economy of their country and likewise their labour benefits the economy of the country of employment resulting into double contribution to poverty reduction and development.

Despite, the systematic disadvantaged position and marginalization of women within the existing patriarchal structure, foreign employment is providing space for women to make progress by asserting their right to employment. Women through their contribution to remittance have proved themselves as economic actors and contributors, breaking away from the traditional role and image of mere 'beneficiaries' and "dependants". However, WMWs are vulnerable to gender specific discrimination and abuse at different points throughout the migration process. In the context, when participation of Nepali women in the foreign employment sector is growing, it is important to strengthen the policies and service mechanisms to protect the rights of WMWs and their empowerment.

In this context, Ministry of Labour and Transport Management (MoL&TM) has been partnering with United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), part of UN Women since 2002, in taking forward the programme on Empowering WMWs of Nepal. This partnership has not been limited only to addressing concerns of Nepali WMWs but has been able to make a significant difference in assisting the Government of Nepal to respond to the concerns of Nepali migrant workers and to respect, protect and fulfill their rights of all Nepali migrant workers from Nepal.