— Binod Bhattarai

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Binod Bhattarai is the immediate past member-secretary of the employment Promotion Commission (EPC). Bhattarai was crucial in introducing the concept of providing loans to prospective migrant laborers. The EPC currently is in the final stage of providing such loans. He spoke to SANJAYA DHAKAL on issues of migrant labor. Excerpts:

How do you see the growth of the foreign employment sector?

It is very positive. Though some may argue otherwise, I am definite that until and unless the state is able to provide job opportunities to its citizens, there is no other option. I see very bleak possibility for our country to provide enough jobs to its youths in near future, as well. In such a situation, we have to promote and encourage foreign employment sector. There is a huge demand for foreign workers abroad, so what’s wrong in tapping that demand. In fact, foreign remittance is the only sector that is making our national economy work at present.

What are the areas that need to be taken care of to promote this sector?

At present 99.5 percent of workers we are sending are unskilled whereas there are many demands for skilled laborers as well. If we are able to provide a basic 3 months training to an unskilled person, he will be able to get a job that fetches him double the current salary and gets him more secure job, too. In fact, one skilled laborer equals to 5 unskilled one. Imagine how much more money they will be earning if all our laborers were skilled. The government has to provide training to them. At present, there is a mismatch in the government’s training procedure. Although it allocates one billion rupees annually for training purpose, the utilization is grossly mismanaged due to incoherent policies and lack of coordination.

The EPC had announced the policy of providing loan to needy people who want to go for foreign employment. What is the status of that program?

Before I resigned from my post about a month ago, we were on the final stages of implementing this program. The role of the government, department of labor, Nepal Rastra Bank, other banks, EPC and manpower agencies had been defined and the Finance Ministry had already given final directives. It had also given 10 million rupees worth guarantee fund. Among the commercial banks, the Bank of Kathmandu had been identified as the lead bank. Other commercial banks have pledged that they would invest at least one billion rupees in the sector. Because of helpful leadership from the governor Dr. Tilak Rawal, the NRB had already recognized this program as the deprived sector facilitating the Credit Guarantee Corporation to pledge up to 75 percent guarantee. The only hitch that was still remaining was the collateral for loan the commercial banks are asking for. The banks have already said that they would release loans if the employing companies give in writing that they would cut certain percentage of employees’ salary and disburse it to them to cover loan and interest payment in installment basis. Things were moving positively in this area, too. The EPC had already listed 18 manpower companies for facilitating this program. I am hopeful that the new EPC management will be able to pursue it and realize it soon.