Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, who is in Oman for his three-day-long official visit, has directed Nepal’s Ambassadors to Gulf Nations and Africa to work for national interests and for the protection of Nepali migrant workers.

At a regional conference of Nepali ambassadors based in Central Asia, West Asia and Africa organized at Muscat of Oman on Tuesday, PM Deuba issued such directive for the Nepali envoys.

PM Deuba also keenly listened to the briefings of all ambassadors present during the programme.

On the occasion, the PM directed the ambassadors to make best possible efforts to address the problems Nepali migrant workers facing in the regions adding that the government was serious to the migrant workers’ issues.

During the programme, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara asked the ambassadors to uplift Nepal’s prestige and dignity from the diplomatic channel and give due priority for economic diplomacy.

Likewise, Minister for Labour and Employment Farmullah Mansur directed the ambassadors to issue the re-approval of labour permit and authentication of documents from the embassy offices in the countries concerned.

On the occasion, the participants stressed the need of coordination among the Ministries of Home, Foreign Affairs, and Labour and Employment.

Similarly, they said that the embassies should be made resourceful as well as deputation of local staff having command over local languages and laws.

Most of the ambassadors said that the problems relating to the migrant workers were due to lack of consciousness and skills on their part as well as their undocumented status in the destinations.

During the conference, Nepal’s Ambassador to Oman Sharmila Parajuli, Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dr Mahendra Singh, Ambassador to Qatar Ramesh Koirala, Ambassador to Israel Niranjan Thapa, Ambassador to South Africa Amrit Rai and others were present. RSS