Safer Migration (SaMi) Programme
Introduction:
Safer Migration (SaMi) Program is a bilateral initiative between the Government of Nepal and the Government of Switzerland. It is implemented by the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security and 4 participating local governments (Dhulikhel, Mandandeupur Municipalities and Bhumlu, Roshi Rural Municipalities) of Kavrepalanchok district, Bagamati Province. Helvetas Nepal provides technical assistance to the program on behalf of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). In Kavrepalanchok District, local levels (Dhulikhel Municipality and Roshi Rural Municipality) and the Local Service Provider (LSP) organization Civic Forum were signed on 17th July, 2022 and the program activities were implemented until the 16th July, 2023.
Objectives:
- Proper protection of foreign workers and workers’ families.
- To provide workers with information, skills, counseling and support so that they can work safely and respectfully in the destination country.
- To make foreign employment more successful by enhancing the capacity of agencies related to foreign employment.
Key Activities:
- Access to Information.
- Access to Skills.
- Access to Justice.
- Psychosocial Support.
- Financial Literacy.
Expected Results:
- Men and women migrants and their families, including marginalised groups, benefit more from migration and mitigate its social implications.
- All spheres of government use effective mechanisms to protect the rights of migrants and their families.
Major Achievements:
Access to Information
Information and Awareness Raising on Safe Migration: SaMi developed an entire model for awareness raising and supporting an “informed” choice on migration. Located at the point of passport applications, Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) informs potential migrants about the implications of foreign employment and can refer them to support services. Key messages are also disseminated at community level through varied outreach mechanisms, including radio programmes and returnee volunteers.
- Establishment/operation of Migrant Resource Center (MRC): 1 (One)
- Information and consulting services flow
|
Local Level |
Through the Migrant Resource Center |
Through Returnee Volunteers (3 returnee per Palika) |
||||
|
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
| Dhulikhel Municipality |
597 |
453 |
1050 |
918 |
599 |
1517 |
| Mandandeupur Municipality |
681 |
402 |
1083 |
2177 |
1186 |
3363 |
| Bhumlu Rural Municipality |
352 |
225 |
436 |
783 |
214 |
997 |
| Roshi Rural Municipality |
560 |
398 |
958 |
798 |
429 |
1227 |
| Other Local Level |
4871 |
3276 |
8147 |
– |
– |
– |
|
Total |
7061 |
4754 |
11674 |
4676 |
2428 |
7104 |
|
Local Level |
Through In-depth orientation to potential migrants at community |
Through Orientation to community level for safer foreign employments |
||||
|
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total | |
| Dhulikhel Municipality |
31 |
11 |
42 |
72 |
36 |
108 |
| Mandandeupur Municipality |
36 |
12 |
48 |
57 |
19 |
76 |
| Bhumlu Rural Municipality |
49 |
7 |
56 |
61 |
34 |
95 |
| Roshi Rural Municipality |
17 |
33 |
50 |
40 |
72 |
112 |
|
Total |
133 |
63 |
196 |
230 |
161 |
391 |
Access to Skills
Pre-departure Skills Training: Evidence suggests that migrating with some preparatory skills support professional integration, security at work, and higher wages. The program is providing one-month free-of-costs skills trainings in different trades: mainly on garment machine operator, housekeeping/cleaner, kitchen helper, welder, plumber, scaffolding and industrial electrician work. The curricula developed for these trades also includes modules on life skills and health. They are approved and used by the Foreign Employment Board.
- Provide free skill training including accommodation
|
Local Level |
Number of participants trained |
||
|
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
| Dhulikhel Municipality |
3 |
– |
3 |
| Mandandeupur Municipality |
– |
2 |
2 |
| Bhumlu Rural Municipality |
– |
– |
– |
| Roshi Rural Municipality |
1 |
– |
1 |
| Other Local Level |
4 |
5 |
9 |
|
Total |
8 |
7 |
15 |
Access to Justice
Legal Support and Access to Justice: SaMi supports migrants that are victims of fraud and exploitation to get access to justice. A mechanism for legal aid informs migrants about their rights, helps them in tracking down fraudulent recruitment agencies and claim compensation. Similarly, SaMi provides support to distressed migrant workers in destination countries by coordinating with partners and the Nepali diplomatic missions in the destination countries.
- Assistance in providing free legal services
|
Local Level |
Number of registered problems |
Number of problems solved |
Financial assistance and compensation amount | ||||||||
|
Cheating |
Rescue |
Death |
Others |
Total |
Cheating |
Rescue |
Death |
Others |
Total |
||
| Dhulikhel Municipality |
1 |
– |
1 |
2 |
4 |
– |
– |
1 |
– |
– |
20,00,000 |
| Mandandeupur Municipality |
2 |
– |
– |
1 |
3 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| Bhumlu Rural Municipality |
– |
– |
– |
1 |
1 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| Roshi Rural Municipality |
– |
1 |
– |
1 |
2 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| Other Local Level |
– |
– |
1 |
1 |
2 |
– |
1 |
– |
1 |
2 |
– |
|
Total |
3 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
12 |
– |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
– |
Psychosocial Support
SaMi initiated a psychosocial intervention to help migrants and families left behind deal with the psychological and social stress implied by migration. This component brings direct support to migrants’ households, in particular women, through home visits by trained counselors.
- Psychosocial counseling services to reduce psychosocial problems caused by foreign employment
|
Local Level |
Psychosocial counselor development and operation |
Personal psychosocial counseling services |
Group psychosocial counseling services |
||||||
|
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female | Total | |
| Dhulikhel Municipality |
– |
1 |
1 |
– |
19 |
19 |
6 |
81 | 87 |
| Mandandeupur Municipality |
– |
1 |
1 |
3 |
9 |
12 |
3 |
97 | 100 |
| Bhumlu Rural Municipality |
– |
1 |
1 |
– |
11 |
11 |
– |
39 | 39 |
| Roshi Rural Municipality |
– |
1 |
1 |
– |
10 |
10 |
5 |
96 | 101 |
|
Total |
– |
4 |
4 |
3 |
49 |
52 |
14 |
313 | 327 |
Financial Literacy
Many migrant households lack the resources to make informed decisions on the use of the remittances generated through migration. SaMi developed financial literacy training to help families keep records of revenues and expenses, to save, and to make financial decisions. These trainings are provided at village level through small group sessions. They primarily target remittance receiving households and women family members.
- Conducting financial literacy classes to facilitate remittances in income generating sectors
|
Local Level |
Financial Literacy Facilitator development and operation |
Class number |
Number of participants |
||||
|
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total | ||
| Dhulikhel Municipality |
– |
1 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
81 |
87 |
| Mandandeupur Municipality | – |
1 |
1 |
– |
3 |
97 |
100 |
| Bhumlu Rural Municipality |
1 |
– |
1 |
– |
– |
39 |
39 |
| Roshi Rural Municipality |
– |
1 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
96 |
101 |
|
Total |
1 |
3 |
3 |
14 |
14 |
313 |
327 |
Other activities carried out as per plan:
|
Activities |
Target |
Achievements |
||||
|
Unit (Event) |
Target |
Results (Event) |
Male |
Female |
Total | |
| Local Government Program Coordination Committee (LGPCC) Meeting |
Event |
2 |
2 |
32 |
5 |
37 |
| Local Government Program Management Committee (LGPMC) Meeting |
Event |
4 |
4 |
41 |
5 |
46 |
| Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) Coordination meeting (DAO, MRC LGs, Program team) |
Event |
2 |
2 |
13 |
4 |
17 |
| Coordination meeting of Local Migrant Right Networks and regular advocacy |
Event |
2 |
3 |
26 |
1 |
27 |
| Capacity Building of Migrants Rights Network |
Event |
1 |
1 |
21 |
3 |
24 |
| Orientation and interaction with employment service centers coordinators |
Event |
2 |
2 |
16 |
8 |
24 |
| Semi-annual/Annual review seminar of SaMi program within the district |
Event |
2 |
2 |
61 |
22 |
83 |
| International Migrant’s Day Celebration (18th December, 2022) |
Event |
1 |
1 |
31 |
22 |
53 |
| Support to develop migration profile of local governments |
Event |
1 |
1 |
7 |
5 |
12 |
| Interaction and orientation program with stakeholders (police- journalists – media mobilization – local public representatives – thematic branches at the local level, such as members of the health branch – sustainability of psychosocial issues at the local level – impact and effect of migration on community leaders, social exclusion and effect reduction of workers. | ||||||
| Interaction with health units for sustainability of psychosocial program at local level |
Event |
1 |
1 |
13 |
11 |
24 |
| Police Orientation |
Event |
1 |
1 |
40 |
10 |
50 |
| Journalist orientation |
Event |
1 |
1 |
35 |
5 |
40 |
| Interaction with local representatives (Mayor/ Deputy/CAO/thematic sections) |
Event |
3 |
3 |
50 |
35 |
85 |
| Community leaders sensitized against social implication of migration |
Event |
3 |
3 |
36 |
51 |
87 |
| Program Monitoring and Evaluation visits by concerned stakeholders |
Event |
4 |
4 |
31 |
4 |
35 |
| Support to broadcast radio jingles on safer migration and other foreign employment issues (Broadcast cost only) |
Regular |
1 |
Public radio message regarding online labor approval and overall safe foreign employment was broadcasted from Jingle Prime FM 104.5 MHz radio from 2079 Poush to 2080 end Ashadh. | |||
| Publications of IEC Material (Visiting Cards, leaflets etc.) |
Regular |
– |
20,000 copies of visiting cards were printed and distributed at the Migrant Resource Center (MRC) and field level. | |||
| Date | Title |
|---|
Project information
- Geographic coverage 2 Local Levels
- Project duration 12 months (17th July, 2022 to 16th July, 2023)
- Project Location Dhulikhel Municipality and Roshi Rural Municipality of Kavrepalanchok District
- Budget 8,600,000.00
- Funding partner's Dhulikhel Municipality and Roshi Rural Municipality
- Implementation Partner (a) District Administration Office (DAO) (b) Employment Service Centres (ESCs) (c) Migrant Workers Rights Protection Forum
- Target groups (a) Potential workers going for foreign employment. (b) Workers in foreign employment. (c) Workers returning from foreign employment. (d) Family members of workers in foreign employment.
