Kathmandu: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has directed the Ministry of Labour, Employment, and Social Security to refrain from imposing additional economic burdens on migrant workers seeking jobs abroad.

During a meeting with the labor minister, secretary, and departmental employees at the Office of the Prime Minister, he urged the authorities not to make or implement decisions that would increase additional service charges, reportedly affecting aspiring migrant workers.

Acknowledging the substantial contribution of Nepali migrant workers to the nation's economy, the Prime Minister proposed the idea of providing soft loans to support their travel expenses. He expressed concern about workers falling victim to usury and intermediaries and emphasized the need to maximize the utilization of the Social Security Fund (SSF) by investing in projects that yield optimal results.

Prime Minister Dahal called for prioritizing the participation of workers from various sectors in the SSF and urged the Ministry to ensure that services related to foreign employment are available at the local level. The meeting also highlighted the ongoing digitization of the global labor market and Nepal's need to modernize its labor market accordingly. The Ministry is preparing to observe the Internal Employment Promotion Decade to create job opportunities for youths within the country. Chief Secretary Dr. Baikuntha Aryal emphasized promoting a labor culture to encourage Nepali youths to work within the country and suggested providing soft loans for those seeking jobs abroad.

Ministry Secretary Kewal Bhandari shared preparations for the Internal Employment Promotion Decade, aiming to increase employment opportunities domestically. Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister, Yek Narayan Aryal, raised concerns about scattered programs featuring the Prime Minister's name, suggesting integration for more effective implementation in sectors yielding tangible results.