Safer Migration (SaMi) Project

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, Mandandeupur Municipalities and Bhumlu, Roshi Rural Municipalities) and the Local Service Provider (LSP) organization Civic Forum were signed on 25^th December, 2019 and the program activities were implemented until the 15^th July, 2022.

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.

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.

1. Establishment/operation of Migrant Resource Center (MRC): 1 (One)
2. Information and consulting services flow

Access to Skills:

Pre-departure Skills Training: Experience shows that migrating with some preparatory skills support professional integration, security at work, and higher wages. The project 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.

3. Provide free skill training including accommodation

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.

4. Assistance in providing free legal services

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.

5. Psychosocial counseling services to reduce psychosocial problems caused by foreign employment

Financial Literacy:

Many migrant households remain ill-equipped 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.

6. Conducting financial literacy classes to facilitate remittances in income generating sectors