Nepal is hosting the first South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC)  ministerial summit,  to finalize the first SAARC Labour and Migration Action Plan in the region from Tuesday.
An  eight-member Team have been formed for exploring the possibility of cooperation in the region to ensure the rights of the migrant workers who go to the Gulf and Malaysia.
During the 18th summit  the heads of government had agreed to work for protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers both in the region and beyond.  The  36-point joint declaration issued the SAARC leaders had agreed to collaborate and cooperate on safe, orderly and responsible management of labour migration from South Asia to ensure safety, security and well being of their migrant workers in the destination countries outside the region.
As per statistic and data  South Asia is home to 36 million migrant workers, where most SAARC countries send labour workers  to the Gulf and Malaysia. Similarly, India sends the largest number of migrant workers with an estimated remittance of US$ 68.90 billion.
The conference is targeted to further look for collaboration and cooperation among the South Asian nations on the protection and promotion of safeguarding the rights of labourers and migrant workers. The two-days gathering will look into various migration-related issues like training to aspirant workers before leaving for foreign employment, standard labour contract, fixing minimum wages, moral and ethical education to migrant workers, sharing of information, access to justice for migrant workers, helping hands and steadfast rescue among others.
