Mongolia Migration in Nepal Migration Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Afghanistan China A COUNTRY PROFILE 2019 PROFILE A COUNTRY Migration in Nepal PakistAan COUNTRY PROFILE 2019 Nepal India Bangladesh Myanmar Sri lanka Maldives International Organization for Migration 768/12 Thirbam Sadak, Baluwatar-5, P.O Box 25503 Tel.: +977 1-442650 Email: [email protected] • Website: www.iom.int The opinions expressed in the report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout the report do not imply expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IOM concerning legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning its frontiers or boundaries. IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an intergovernmental organization, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to: assist in the meeting of operational challenges of migration; advance understanding of migration issues; encourage social and economic development through migration; and uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants. Publisher: International Organization for Migration 768/12 Thirbam Sadak, Baluwatar-5 P.O Box 25503 Tel.: +977 1-442650 Email: [email protected] Website: www.iom.int This Migration Profile has been issued without formal editing by IOM. _____________________________________________________ © 2019 International Organization for Migration (IOM) _____________________________________________________ All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. PUB2019/044/L Migration in Nepal A COUNTRY PROFILE 2019 MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER OF MINISTRY OF LABOUR, EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY Migration in Nepal: A Country Profile 2019 iii MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF MINISTRY OF LABOUR, EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY Migration in Nepal: A Country Profile 2019 v MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF OF MISSION I am pleased to introduce the inaugural Nepal Migration Profile developed with the support of IOM Development Fund. The Profile is the result of several months of consultations and research, led by the Technical Working Group (TWG), an interministerial forum co-chaired by the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security and the Chief of Mission of IOM. The TWG provided essential guidance and support to the Migration Profile Development Process. Nepal’s migration situation is characterised by out-migration for employment, with a significant proportion of the population being overseas for work at any one time. Nepali workers are found in well over 100 different countries around the world and their remittances make a valuable and important contribution to Nepal’s economy. This dominant trend, and the potential impacts of such large-scale foreign employment, need to be properly measured and understood by Nepal, to ensure that potential positive impacts are harnessed and that negative impacts are minimised. A further defining characteristic of Nepal’s migration is the freedom of movement of nationals to and from India. Although its scale is considered significant and many of its direct and indirect impacts are apparent, reliable data is scarce. At present, this and other migration data in Nepal is collected and analysed in a fragmented manner which can result in policymaking without the necessary evidence to underpin it. The Government of Nepal is increasingly aware of the effect of migration on the welfare of Nepal, its people and its economy, and has recognized that we need to view migration within a broader development context. At the cusp of a new decade, the development of this Migration Profile takes place at a time when migration has been firmly placed on the international agenda as an issue of importance that needs to be addressed in a comprehensive and planned way. Migration is featured in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in recognition of the growing impact of migration on development. Lastly, I would like to thank the members and representatives of the TWG from the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, National Planning Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Ministry of Health Migration in Nepal: A Country Profile 2019 vii and Population, Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizen, Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, National Human Rights Commission, Department of Immigration, Department of Civil Registration, Central Bureau of Statistics and Central Bank of Nepal as well as civil society, research organizations, academicians, private sector, UN agencies for their engagement, contributions and support. Lorena Lando Chief of Mission International Organization for Migration Nepal viii Migration in Nepal: A Country Profile 2019 CONTENTS Message from the Minister of Ministry of Labour Employment and Social Security .........................................................iii Message from the Secretary of Ministry of Labour Employment and Social Security ......................................................... v Message from the Chief of Mission .......................................................vii List of tables .............................................................................................xi List of figures ...........................................................................................xii Technical working group members ........................................................xv Drafting team ........................................................................................xvii Abbreviations and acronyms .................................................................xix Migration definitions and concepts ......................................................xxi Executive summary .................................................................................. 1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 7 Part A: Migration trends and migrant characteristics ........................... 23 A.1. Global Migration and Displacement Trends ........................................ 23 A.2. Key Drivers of Migration ....................................................................... 26 A.3. Brief History of Nepal’s Migration ........................................................ 33 A.4. Migration Rates .................................................................................... 35 A.5. Absentee Population ............................................................................ 35 A.6. Labour Migration .................................................................................. 40 A.7. Student Migration ................................................................................ 65 A.8. Irregular Migration ............................................................................... 69 A.9. Internal Displacement .......................................................................... 74 A.10. Nepali Diaspora .................................................................................... 76 A.11. Passports .............................................................................................. 79 A.12. Foreigners in Nepal .............................................................................. 79 A.13. Refugees ............................................................................................... 83 A.14. Overstayers ........................................................................................... 84 Part B: Impact of migration ................................................................... 87 B.1. Levels of Impact ................................................................................... 87 B.2. Impact on Economic Development (Remittances) ............................... 88 B.3. Impact of Migration on Human Development ..................................... 95 Migration in Nepal: A Country Profile 2019 ix Part C: Migration governance .............................................................. 113 C.1. International Treaties ......................................................................... 113 C.2. National Legal Policy and Institutional Frameworks .......................... 114 C.3. Key Partners ....................................................................................... 131 C.4. Regional and Interregional Governance ............................................. 136 C.5. Global Governance ............................................................................. 138 Part D: Key findings, policy implications and recommendations ....... 141 D.1. Main findings on current trends, migration policies and the impact of migration ............................................................... 141 D.2. Recommendations ............................................................................. 143 Annex 1: Agencies and organizations involved directly and indirectly with migration (stakeholder mapping) ........ 151 Annex 2: Meetings of TWG ................................................................. 155 x Migration in Nepal: A Country Profile 2019 LIST OF TABLES Table