By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Dec. 20: To safeguard the rights of the migrant workers, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Nepal and Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) have agreed to extend cooperation between the two rights bodies by a year.
On November 14 last year, NHRC and SUHAKAM had signed a joint agreement to strengthen protection for migrant workers, especially in relation to cross-border human trafficking and forced labour and collaborate in protection and promotion of rights of the migrant workers.
Commemorating the International Migrant Workers Day on Friday, both the rights bodies have signed an agreement to extend the collaboration by one year starting from December 17, 2020.
Following this, Nepali migrant workers in Malaysia can now file a complaint at Human Rights Commission of Malaysia.
Issuing a press statement, NHRC said that the commission and SUHAKAM have agreed to prioritise the registering, sharing of information and monitoring of human rights violation of migrant workers from both countries.
The statement issued in the name of NHCR’s Spokesperson Dr. Tika Ram Pokharel read, “As per the agreement, any Nepali worker in Malaysia can file a complaint at the National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia if they face any hardship.”
Similarly, the commission has asked the government to protect the rights of Nepali migrant workers who have been facing challenges and hardships due to global COVID-19 crisis.
The commission has further urged all the local units to collaborate with federal and provincial governments and other concerned bodies to record the number of Nepali migrant workers who have returned after losing their jobs due to COVID-19 pandemic.
It has further asked the government to act seriously to resolve the issues of migrant workers, who have returned from the labour destination countries due to the pandemic, who were put out of their jobs, refused salaries and facilities, and the female domestic workers.
It has asked the government to record data about the situation of Nepali migrant workers during the crisis and collaborate with various agencies for their welfare.
Likewise, the commission has asked all the private companies working in this sector to function according to the principles of the business and human rights protection.
NHRC has further asked the government to ratify the United Nations International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Member of Their Families, 1990 and the International Labour Organization’s Domestic Workers Convention No. 189, 2011 and implement the recommendations of the commission.
The event was attended by NHRC Secretary Bed Bhattarai, Jerald Joseph, member of SUHAKAM, Nepali migrant workers working in Malaysia, representatives of Nepali Embassy to Malaysia, Department of Consular Services, Department of Foreign Employment and human rights activists.