Kathmandu. The government has allocated Rs 3.63 billion for the labour and employment sector for the coming fiscal year.

Presenting the budget in the joint meeting of the federal parliament today, Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle said that the ‘Returning Migrant Programme’ would be prepared to retain those who have returned home from the labour and foreign employment in the coming fiscal year. He said that the youths would be equipped with skills by conducting workplace-based training.

He also informed that the government would review the labour agreement and sign additional agreements with new destination countries to make foreign employment more safe and dignified. Finance Minister Dr Wagle said that necessary budget would be allocated for rescuing the Nepali citizens stranded in the country and for making arrangements to bring the dead bodies back home.

The Finance Minister said that the government has further plans to make foreign employment dignified, transparent and automated by making arrangements for foreign employment only after learning skills and payment from employers without collateral.

Finance Minister Wagle said that the service charge would be made labour-friendly by encouraging zero investment while going for foreign employment. He also pledged to run a ‘lottery’ programme based on every receipt of remittance inflow to further encourage remittance through formal channel, and to provide nutritious food at subsidized rate to the workers in the informal sector to support their livelihood and basic health.