JANAKPURDHAM, May 30: The first budget presented since the formation of the government led by Balendra Shah (Balen) has placed strong emphasis on foreign employment.
Presenting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year during a joint session of both houses of the Federal Parliament on Friday, Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle announced a range of measures aimed at making foreign employment safer, more dignified, and better managed.
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The government plans to expand access to new labor destinations and review existing labor agreements with foreign countries. During his budget speech, Wagle said additional labor agreements would be signed with new destination countries to enhance the safety and rights of Nepali migrant workers.
The government has also allocated funds for the rescue of Nepali workers facing difficulties abroad and for the repatriation of the bodies of deceased migrant workers.
A major policy shift announced in the budget is the introduction of a requirement that workers acquire skills before seeking foreign employment. To support this, the government will provide short-term and workplace-based training programs to equip young people with marketable skills.
The budget further proposes measures to make foreign employment more transparent and dignified through collateral-free loans, installment-based payments by employers, and automated systems. The government also pledged to promote the zero-cost recruitment concept and make service fees more worker-friendly.
To encourage remittances through formal channels, the government has introduced a new incentive scheme. Under the plan, a lottery program will be conducted based on receipts from remittances sent through official banking and financial channels.
Similarly, the government plans to launch a “Returnee Migrant Program” to utilize the skills and experience of Nepalis returning from abroad. In addition, a “Remittance-Investment Matching Fund” will be established to encourage reverse migration and channel remittance income into productive investments rather than consumption.
Overall, the budget reflects a strategy that views foreign employment not merely as labor export, but as a means of promoting skills development, investment, entrepreneurship, and productive economic growth
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