Authorities concerned of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) have joined hands to formulate minimum common standards regarding facilities to migrant workers.

A consultative workshop on “Saarc plan of action for cooperation on matters related to migration” that started in Kathmandu yesterday decided to formulate the standards for salary and facilities given to migrant workers and make a common strategy on ensuring their rights and ending their problems.

The two-day workshop was attended by higher officers of the receptive ministry of labour and employment of eight Saarc countries.

Inaugurating the event, Minister for Labour and Employment of Nepal Dipak Bohara said that the event aims to formulate a common plan for Saarc members to move ahead hand in hand with regards to foreign employment.

He said the 18th Saarc summit held in Kathmandu, Nepal has for the first time accommodated the issue of migration in its declaration.

Presenting a figure of around 35.1 million people from the Saarc countries alone having left for foreign employment, he stressed the need for Saarc countries to show solidarity with anti-human trafficking.

Likewise, secretary of the ministry Bishnu Lamsal viewed that Saarc countries should raise common voice on salary and facilities given to migrant workers and their security.

Mani Bhattarai, joint secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal; Raghu Kaphle, executive director of the Foreign Employment Promotion Board, Nepal; and government officials of the respective ministry of labour and employment of Saarc countries also attended.