नेपाल–ओमान श्रम सम्झौता अन्तिम चरणमा, मस्यौदा स्वीकृतNepal-Oman Labor Agreement Reaches Final Stage, Draft Approved
लामो समयदेखि रोकिएको नेपाल–ओमान श्रम सम्झौता अब अन्तिम चरणमा पुगेको छ। श्रम, रोजगार तथा सामाजिक सुरक्षा मन्त्रालयले उक्त श्रम सम्झौताका मस्यौदालाई मन्त्रिपरिषदमा पठाएको छ।
मन्त्रालयका सह सचिव र प्रवक्ता पिताम्बर घिमिरेका अनुसार, ओमान सरकारले नेपालद्वारा पठाइएको मस्यौदालाई अनुमोदन गरेको छ। अब मन्त्रिपरिषद्को बैठकले मस्यौदालाई स्वीकृति दिएपछि, नेपालले औपचारिक रूपमा ओमान सरकारलाई हस्ताक्षरको लागि सूचना पठाउने प्रक्रिया सुरु गर्नेछ। ओमान सरकारले सो दस्तावेजको हस्ताक्षरको लागि मिति तोक्नेछ र दुवै मुलुक बीच श्रम सम्झौतामा हस्ताक्षर गर्ने तयारी चलिरहेको छ।
नेपाल र ओमानबीच ५० वर्ष पुरानो कूटनीतिक सम्बन्ध रहेको छ, तर श्रम सम्झौताका विषयमा बारम्बार प्रस्ताव आदानप्रदान हुँदा पनि अब तक सहमति हुन सकेको थिएन।
सन् २०७६ वैशाखमा तयार गरिएको प्रारम्भिक मस्यौदामा शून्य लागतमा नेपाली श्रमिक पठाउने सहमति भए पनि, ओमानले श्रम कानुन परिवर्तन गरेपछि सम्झौता अड्किएको थियो। नेपालले श्रमिक हितका विभिन्न प्रावधान स्पष्ट पार्न माग राखेपछि, सम्झौतामा ढिलाइ भएको थियो।
यस वर्ष ओमानका विदेशमन्त्री सइद बद्र हमाद हमुद अल बुसाइदी नेपाल आएका बेला पनि सम्झौता टुंग्याउने अपेक्षा गरिएको थियो, तर नेपाली पक्षले मस्यौदामा थप संशोधनको अडान राखेपछि हस्ताक्षर स्थगित भएको थियो।
ओमानले हालैका वर्षहरूमा श्रम कानुनमा महत्त्वपूर्ण सुधार गरेका छन्, जसमा पारिश्रमिक संरक्षण प्रणाली, सामाजिक सुरक्षा, अनिवार्य स्वास्थ्य बीमा, १ सय ८२ दिन बिदा, तलब नपाए रोजगारदाता परिवर्तन गर्न पाउने व्यवस्था र श्रम विवादका क्रममा श्रमिकका खर्च रोजगारदाताले बेहोर्ने प्रबन्ध जस्ता अधिकार सुनिश्चित गरिएको छ। यसपछि नेपालले श्रमिकको सुरक्षा सुनिश्चित हुने विश्वाससाथ सम्झौतामा सकारात्मक कदम अघि बढाएको छ।
हाल ओमानमा लगभग २५ हजार नेपाली श्रमिक कार्यरत छन्, जसमा अधिकांश घरेलु श्रमिक छन् भने केही निर्माण क्षेत्रमा काम गर्दैछन्। नेपालको श्रम मन्त्रालयको बुझाइ अनुसार, यो सम्झौतापछि अवैध श्रम प्रवृत्तिहरू कम हुने अपेक्षा गरिएको छ।
नेपालले अब तक १२ वटा मुलुकसँग श्रम सम्झौता गरेको छ। यससमेत बेलायत, इजरायल, युएई, मलेसिया, जोर्डन, बहराइन, कोरिया र कतारसँग श्रम सम्झौता गरिसकेको छ।
यो सम्झौताले नेपालका श्रमिकहरूको लागि नयाँ अवसर र सुरक्षा सुनिश्चित गर्ने मार्ग खोल्ने विश्वास व्यक्त गरिएको छ।
The long-awaited Nepal-Oman labor agreement has now reached its final stage. The Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security has sent the draft of the labor agreement for approval to the Cabinet.
According to the Ministry's Deputy Secretary and Spokesperson, Pitambar Ghimire, the draft sent by Nepal was approved by the Omani government. Once the Cabinet approves the draft, Nepal will formally send a notice to the Omani government for signing the labor agreement. Oman will then set a date for the signing, and both countries are preparing to formalize the labor agreement.
Nepal and Oman have maintained diplomatic relations for over 50 years, but agreement on labor issues has been elusive despite multiple rounds of proposals and exchanges.
An initial draft of the agreement was prepared in 2019, which included provisions for sending Nepali workers to Oman at zero cost. However, the agreement stalled after Oman changed its labor laws. Nepal then raised concerns about various provisions related to worker welfare, leading to further delays.
When Oman's Foreign Minister, Sayyid Badr Hamad Hamoud al-Busaidi, visited Nepal last year, there were hopes of finalizing the labor agreement. However, the Nepalese side insisted on further amendments to the draft, delaying the signing.
In recent years, Oman has made significant amendments to its labor laws, ensuring important rights such as wage protection, social security, mandatory health insurance, 182 days of leave, the right to change employers if wages are not paid, and provisions for employers to bear the costs in labor disputes. With these changes, Nepal has renewed positive and constructive dialogue, believing that the agreement will ensure worker protection.
Currently, around 25,000 Nepali workers are employed in Oman, most of them as domestic workers, with some also working in the construction sector. The Ministry of Labor believes that this agreement will help reduce illegal labor activities and improve the legal framework for sending domestic workers to Oman, with provisions for zero-cost, 24-hour insurance, and employers bearing all expenses.
While both countries have agreed on the terms of the draft, Nepal has insisted on clearly defining the legal obligations and responsibilities of both governments and employers, which has taken time to finalize. The agreement will clearly outline the duties of Nepal, the Omani government, and employers.
So far, Nepal has signed labor agreements with 12 countries, including the UK in 2022, Israel in 2020, UAE in 2007/2019, Mauritius in 2019, Japan in 2009/2019, Malaysia in 2018, Jordan in 2017, Bahrain in 2008, South Korea in 2007, and Qatar in 2005.
This agreement is expected to open new opportunities for Nepali workers and ensure greater security and protection for them in Oman.
