Good Migration for All

Many aspiring migrant workers face various abuses such as lack of proper information, networks and access to finance that can make migrating overseas either impossible, making them immobile, or an incredibly risky endeavor for those who choose to migrate by taking up hefty loans and relying on fraudulent agents. These challenges and risks are further amplified for those from marginalized communities—whether economically disadvantaged, socially marginalized, or residing in geographically disadvantaged areas, among others. These are also the very communities that could benefit the most from good migration opportunities.

We tested two pilot CSR initiatives in partnership with the International Manpower Recruitment (IMR), an ethical recruiter, in the last 12 months to make ethical migration accessible to marginalized communities:

‍CSR Initiative 1: Musahar community

The Musahar community in Nepal is one of the most marginalized and vulnerable groups in the country. They live in extreme poverty, with little access to education, healthcare, or decent jobs. The term Musahar means “rat-eaters”. Trapped by systemic discrimination and social exclusion, they face extreme hardships in accessing even the most basic services. including education, healthcare and jobs. Most Musahars work in low-paying jobs, unable to escape the cycle of poverty and many are still landless. 16 Musahar youth were provided jobs to work in an electronics and plastic manufacturing factory.

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Our belief for selecting this group: one good migration opportunity has the power to push families out of intergenerational poverty.

CSR Initiative 2: Jajarkot earthquake victims

In November 2023, the underdeveloped district of Jajarkot in mid-western Nepal was devastated by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that killed hundreds, injured many, and destroyed infrastructure like homes and schools. Despite relief aid, recovery efforts were inadequate given the region's lack of access to basic services even before the disaster. It is common for migrant workers to plan on buying new land or building or upgrading existing houses using remittances. However, the Jajarkot case was different, as building a house meant something different: they desired to build houses because the earthquake had partially or fully damaged their previous ones and they were keen to move their families from temporary shelters to permanent ones. 52 Jajarkot youth were sent to Malaysia to work in a glove factory.

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Our belief for selecting this group: good migration can complement recovery efforts post-disaster and provide a long-term reliable source of income.

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Given the power of responsible recruitment to transform lives of the poorest, this CSR initiative aims to redefine how recruiters, employers and other private sector stakeholders can demonstrate social responsibility. Our initiative aims to go the extra mile to reach the last mile.

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