Nepal Proposes 24-Hour Insurance Coverage for Nepali Workers in UAE

Kathmandu – Nepal and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are preparing to enhance bilateral cooperation with a focus on labour welfare, educational opportunities, and investment in skill development infrastructure.

In a high-level meeting held recently, Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Sharat Singh Bhandari, and UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reviewed existing agreements and discussed several new proposals aimed at improving the experience of Nepali workers and students in the UAE.

Among the key proposals was the introduction of a pilot initiative to deploy trained Nepali female domestic workers to the UAE under a regulated and secure framework. The move expected to create safe employment pathways while addressing labour market demands.

Recognizing the growing appeal of the UAE as an emerging education hub, the Nepali side also urged for the provision of scholarships to deserving Nepali students. Additionally, support was sought to establish training centers in Nepal, including assistance with modern equipment and physical infrastructure, to strengthen vocational skill development.

To ensure better social security for migrant workers, a proposal for implementing comprehensive 24-hour insurance coverage for Nepalese employed in the UAE was tabled. Another priority concern raised was the high cost of remittance transfers, with Nepal advocating for a reduction in the fees to ease the financial burden on migrant families.

In a related development, companies in the UAE have expressed interest in contributing to the health and education sectors for Nepali migrant workers through their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. This aligns with Nepal’s long-term objective of promoting inclusive and sustainable labour migration.