Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed officials to prepare an action plan to make overseas employment safe and decent for Nepali migrants.

The foreign employment sector currently faces multiple problems such as falling demand from work destinations, rise in deaths of Nepalis abroad and mistreatment of migrant job seekers.

Expressing concerns over the hardships faced by Nepali migrant workers both at home and abroad, Dahal asked the ministries of Foreign Affairs, and Labour and Employment to collaborate for safety and security of migrant workers, the Prime Minister’s Office posted on its official website.

In the absence of proper laws and strict monitoring, thousands of Nepalis fall prey to human traffickers every year and many others endure abuse and exploitation from their employers abroad.

Despite the heavy contribution of remittance to Nepal’s economy, the government has done little to protect and promote the rights of around 5 million Nepalis working in countries excepting India.

The PM reportedly told the ministers concerned that it was essential to formulate proper laws and policies before their effective implementation and monitoring.

Dahal is not the first prime minister to pledge such reforms. His predecessors including KP Sharma Oli and Sushil Koirala had taken similar initiatives but there have been no remarkable changes in workers’ conditions.

More than 2,172 Nepali migrants were duped and nearly 2,000 left stranded in the transit and destination countries in the fiscal year 2015-16, according to official statistics. Hundreds of Nepali migrants die at the workplace every year.

Concerned stakeholders say there has been a staggering rise in the number of Nepali women being smuggled to the Gulf countries through informal channels. More than 70 women were rescued from transit countries like India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the last one month.

During the meeting, Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat and Labour Minister Surya Man Pun agreed to work together to make legal and procedural changes for the benefit and welfare of Nepali citizens working abroad, officials said.