Safer Migration project (SaMi)

Every second household in the country has amigrant worker amongst its family members, the majority leaving to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Malaysia. Oespite the important contribution of labour migration to the national economy, the rights of migrants and their families are often violated. Moreover, there are many challenges related to gender and social inclusion: About 90% of the migrants leaving abroad are men. The absence of male members in the family has significant social effects on Nepali society, especially women, often causing mental health issues.

To address some of these challenges, SOC has been supporting the Government of Nepal (GoN) through the Safer Migration project (SaMi) since 2011. The project has evolved over the years, building on experiences from its implementation and adapting to the evolving context, most notably the promulgation of the 2015 Constitution. Over the years, the government has built strong ownership for the SaMi project and constantly increased its financial contributions. The GoN is keen to ensure project continuity beyond the Swiss support. For the full institutionalisation of migration services within the government system a carefully conceptualised exit phase is needed.

Outcome 1: Men and women migrants and their families have increased the benefits and mitigated the social implications of migration.

Outcome 2: All three spheres of government use effective mechanisms for the protection of migrants and their families.

Principaux résultats attendus:  

Under Outcome 1:

• Men and women migrants access information on migrating safely; Victims of migration-related exploitation and fraud access legal aid and associated support; Migrants and families in distress use psychosocial services
• Migrants acquire skills through vocational training
• Migrants' networks have the evidence and skills for effective policy dialogue

Under Outcome 2:

• The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MOLESS) ensures safe and orderly migration; MoLESS and the related ministries digitalise the data management system
• The Vocational and Skill Development Training Academy has the capacity to address the need for skilling migrant workers
• Province governments are strengthened to deliver their strategic and coordination role on foreign employment; Local governments strengthen MRCs and Employment Service Centres for continued safer migration services

Principaux résultats antérieurs:  

• Perception by the government changed from stigmatising labour migration to recognising the scale of migration and the need to protect and support migrant workers
• Project interventions contributed to empower migrants and their families and made migration services more accessible through their federalisation. Across the country, 38 Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs) as central hub for migration services were established
• Since 2011, an estimated 2.26 million people (30% women) benefited from migration services supported by SaMi. Through legal support, the project helped around 36'000 migrants and their families to retrieve CHF 17 million of compensation payments and welfare services
• Provincial and local governments have established dedicated labour and employment sections, endorsed policies and allocated substantial budget, paving the way for sustained migration services at subnational level

Synergies with SDC-funded projects: Reintegration of Returnee Migrant Workers, Strengthening Employment Service Centres, Quality TVET for Youth, Enhanced Skills for Sustainable and Rewarding Employment, National Vocational Qualification System, Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response Project; regional and global projects of the thematic section migration and forced displacement

Government programmes: Prime Minister Employment Programme

Development partners and UN: WB, ILO, IOM, UNCDF, FCDO and KOICA