NepaliEconomy.com: June 2008

Nepal becomes a federal democratic republic
Nepalnews, 28-May-08

The historic first meeting of the Constituent Assembly (CA) has endorsed a proposal to amend the interim constitution implementing the declaration of Nepal as a federal democratic republic.

The officiating chairman of the CA, Kul Bahadur Gurung said that of the 564 CA members who took part in the voting on the proposal, 560 voted in its favour while four members voted against it.

The motion for implementing the republic declaration was introduced by the government.

Home Minister Krishna Sitaula introduced the proposal as per the Article 159 of the Interim Constitution, which was put for voting.

Following the voting result, the CA also approved a proposal stating that the King should vacate the Narayanhity royal palace within 15 days.

The proposal states that the King will lose all perks and privileges except his rights as a common citizen. The Narayanhity royal palace will be turned into a national museum or used in national interest as deemed necessary by the government, the proposal adds.

The CA meeting had started after 9 pm on Wednesday night at Birendra International Convention Center (BICC).

Earlier in the day, the major parties including Nepali Congress (NC), Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) and the Maoists had agreed to introduce a proposal to implement republic at the CA. They also agreed to establish constitutional president and executive prime minister and bring about necessary changes in the interim constitution for this purpose.

“The president will be the commander in chief of the national army. He will act as per the recommendation of the Prime Minister. He will be authorised to declare emergency in accordance with the cabinet decision,” said NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi.

He added that president will be elected by the CA and details about his election process will be worked out and incorporated in another amendment proposal soon.

Japan to take in Nepali workers
eKantipur, 24-May-08
BY PRABHAKAR GHIMIRE

Japanese officials have agreed to accept Nepali semi-skilled and skilled trainee workers for employment with different business enterprises in Japan, said a top Nepali official.

Taking to the Post, Shyam Prasad Mainali, secretary at the Ministry of Labor and Transport Management (MoLTM), said officials of the two countries have signed Minutes of Understanding, specifying priorities in the process of recruiting Nepalis for jobs in Japan.

The minutes were signed in Tokyo by Mainali and the vice president of the Japan International Training and Co-operation Organization (JITCO) - the government entity there for overseeing the training and recruitment of workers.

Mainali said both sides agreed to designate Nepali institutions with authority to send trainees to one of the most lucrative labor destinations, and also to adopt measures to check possible cheating of job seekers during the recruitment process.

Japan is expected to absorb Nepali workers mainly in the industrial and agriculture sectors.

"We are in the process of setting criteria for selecting institutions that can undertake recruitment for Asia's largest economy," Mainali added. Both sides have also agreed to wipe out the possible role of middlemen between employers and designated Nepali institutions to minimize cheating.

"We see Japan becoming a destination for huge numbers of Nepali job aspirants who are skilled or semi skilled but we cannot estimate the exact demand there at this initial stage," said Mainali who also met the Japanese vice-ministers for justice and labor, local employers and JITCO officials.

During the meetings, Japanese officials put forwarded eligibility criteria for Nepali workers in Japan. According to Mainali, workers having knowledge of Japanese language and culture, good work experience and the skills that can be capitalized by the home country in future will be favored while selecting them for jobs.

Under the understanding, the trainee workers will get two years of training and one year of internship at work places in Japan, with handsome pay. He said during their trainee period the workers can earn between Rs 80,000 and Rs100,000 per month as allowance, excluding overtime, depending on the status of the employing companies.

Meanwhile, the officials of both countries also agreed in principle to recruit Nepali workers in Japan through the government level. "We are agreed in principal on a recruitment process through the government level without the involvement of any recruiting agencies," said Mainali, who held talks with the Japanese justice minister in this connection.

He said that the government would complete necessary homework within two months before initiating procedures in consultation with Japanese officials preparatory to sending Nepali workers to this most attractive labor destination.

NepaliEconomy.com

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Roundup of Economic & Business News (May 1 - May 31)

Nepal becomes a federal democratic republic

Japan to take in Nepali workers