Skills Utilization by Returnees
Abstract
The increasing aspiration of the abroad workers to be with near and dear family members and work for homeland can be seen in the status of social media. Returnee workers are the integral and significant part of Nepalese society. Due to the slow pace of economic development in the past, our government was unable to broaden employment opportunities within the country. Country had experience, the trend of labors outflow to developed countries and are getting opportunities of foreign employment .Foreign employment is still an attractive sector for many Nepalese for economic opportunity and therefore entering into labor market every year. Returnee’s workers not only earned the remittances for the nation of origin but also gained skills and knowledge. It is matter of utmost important as what different work skills and knowledge earned and how the gained skills are utilized in the homeland by the returnees. At the same time, it is equally important to get insight of the problems related with social reintegration after long time stay out of the country and away from society and family. The study also tries to search as how the returnee’s skills are being converted into sustainable earning by the application of the gained knowledge in the different economic activities. The recent government policy to encourage the returnees to utilize the gained skills has motivated many Nepalese youth working abroad to come back and work in the homeland. There can be many problems associated with the returnees and their skill utilization which need to be diagnosed and addressed properly to effectively gain the benefits of foreign skills by the state and raise the living standard of people by promoting the ways of sustainable income. It is a fact that the major portions of the remittances earned abroad by the returnees are spent in unproductive means and tangible assets. Ultimately one is left with the skills and knowledge gained from the job. The skills and knowledge is yet an important and most valuable asset which can be utilized for the benefit of all.
1. Introduction
There is no official record of returnees of Nepalese workers from foreign employment. But the remittance has been used for productive as wells as in unproductive sectors in Nepal. Apart from the remittance, the returnees’ workers also bring back the experience skill and knowledge from the foreign countries which can be taken as knowledge or skill earned .The present study tries to identify as what different skills and knowledge have been gained and how it been utilized by the returnees in the different economic activities.
Remittance has helped to keep our countries economy afloat contributing 29% in our GDP.As for the economic data published Nepal Rasta Bank NRs.783 Billon received in the fiscal year 2018/019.No doubt if has strong emend Nepalese people’s purchasing power as well. At the same time it can also be noted that the foreign employment cannot remain sustainable income for a nation and therefore in risk. Due to the recent unrest and conflicts in the Middle East where large numbers of Nepalese workers are employed becoming more risky and less attractive. There is a possibility that many Nepalese workers might be displaced or turnout due to the outbreak of War in the region. The remittance sent by the workers are found spent on children education and ornaments buying .ultimately which remain with the returnee is the knowledge and skill which he/she grained from abroad foreign employment. The skills and knowledge can be used as an important asset and valuable resources. Therefore it is an utmost important area to find as how the gained skills are utilized to convent into sustainable income / earning in the homeland by the returnee workers. The present study also take into consideration the use of remittance in the establishment of micro enterprises, purchase of equipment, establishment agri-business restaurants and other investment made by the returnee.
In the recent time many migrant worker are now reluctant to go back again to foreign land due to the unprecedented social and family disruption as well as growing dissatisfaction of the aged parents. The social-cultural related problems and divorce are increasing due to the increase in the foreign employment rate which has created negative impact in our social-cultural norms and values .This could be the rationally behind of returnee to retain and work in the homeland and be with the near and dear ones.
Returnee workers are the integral and significant part of Nepalese society .In the recent year many development countries focus on this element to understand the dynamics behind workers returning to their home countries .Return contribute to their countries of organ in different ways in the promotion of economic activities by utilizing the capital and skilled acquired in their host countries. No doubt they contributed the major part in our gross domestic product by remitting their earning while in foreign employment. The present study is to understand as how the knowledge, experiences and skills earned abroad are being utilized by the returnees to achieve sustainable income at home country.
Returnee migration is an integral and significant element in the cycle of international migration. . In recent years, it has received high importance because both the international agencies and government are equally interested in leveraging the returnee migration to their economic advantage. Despite this growing attention, limited research has been conducted to understand the decision making dynamics behind migrants returning to their home countries. It is a fact that returnee contributes to their countries of origin in a number of ways including, bringing their human capital and skilled acquired in their host countries, investing in local Economics with their remittances and wealth accumulated while abroad, utilizing their transnational linkages to facilitate innovative.
Major Findings
The major findings of the study are as presented below: a) The study found that most of the returnees are from GCC countries (76%) and Malaysia and about 1.8% are from European nation who are currently in the Rupandehi district and have no plan to go back again as migrant workers. b) It was found that 41.5% migrant workers stay for 1-5years and 32.2% found to stay
for 6-10years working abroad and average time spent abroad before returning homeland is found to be 6.45years. 31-40 age group is the standard age group which is the standard age in which migrant return back with intention to work in their origin place. c) The returnees were found to engage in different sectors such as service (35.7%), production (19.9%), agriculture (7%), and other unidentified sector 16.6%. The returnees were expected to have gained knowledge and skills in different job activities such as Fitting, cutting, accounting, operating, selling, and so on. Study found that returnees acquired technical skills (37.4%), human skills (10.5%), managerial skills (11.7%), marketing skills (2.3%), and other work experiences and soft skills 38%. The job related values and cultures such as quality awareness,system practice, team work, discipline, and other work related cultures were the remarkable learning from the foreign employment. d) Most of the returnees were found to create job opportunities after returning homeland. 51.5% were found to have their own business and 19.9% are working as employees in different organizations. 28.1% are found ideal and are looking for opportunities to explore or engage in. e) 33.3% of returnees agreed to have utilizing the skills and knowledge which they have gained from abroad. 42.1% of returnee’s skill are found to have no application of the skills acquired from foreign land. f) 48% of the returnees agreed that the gained skills, knowledge and experience are not valuable and helpful for the sustainable income as the skills and job knowledge which they have gained from abroad do not match the job they are currently doing. 5.7% responded positively to have sustainable earning through the application of gained skills. g) Study found that different problems are associated with the application of skills problem such as technical, financial, marketing and government policy related problems.
Recommendation based on data analysis and major findings, the following
a) Government is the major actor in the migration process and found active in the sending process and therefore cannot remain passive on the return of the migrant workers. A systematic database on the returnees of Rupandehi district should be maintain to get accurate statistics on the return flow of migrant to the district.
b) Government keeps the records of the remittances earned from migrant workers in each financial year and analyses the money value earned in terms of contribution towards GDP. Statistics should also identify and record the skills gained by the returnees by adapting skill test on arrival.
c) Migrant workers came back with skills, knowledge, and saving but without proper guidance and information .They cannot invest the expertise and money in a productive venture. There should be program and plans to provide orientation to the returnee workers about all necessary information, knowledge and skills essential. It is necessary to provide various info services to returnees through various project activities. A counseling cell can be established in this regards.
d) Significant numbers of potential workforce of age group between 20-40 years are energetic with hard and soft skills with high intention to work should be motivated to retain by providing guidance and support to make fresh start in the home land to achieve the economic development and promote sustainable income in the rural and sub-urban areas from where returnees mostly belongs to.
e) A system in which migrant workers always remain unskilled should be reviewed. On the basis of the work experiences and knowledge, migrant returnee’s skills and competences can be certified. Formal education and informal knowledge (work experiences and skills gained) can be combined together to transform the unskilled labor into Simi-skilled and skilled labor which can fetch higher wage in the national and international labor market.f) Many migrant workers are found not utilizing the skills in the concerned field. The social and economic re-integration of migrants upon their return home should also be an important concern of the government. Not only the earning but learning of the returnees should be properly utilized by the state for the sustainable development. .People feel the lack of supportive policies of government to encourage the returnees for skill utilization and productive investment, the soft loan and grants by the
government is appreciable but is practically very difficult to get such facilities.g) Government formal support mechanism for linking their learned skill and economic activities, the skills brought by returnee migrants may be put to effective use for national development.
h) Technical skills acquired by returnees are more significant. Migrant Workers with such scare technical skills should be identified and can be utilized for providing training for the development of skilled manpower within the country.
Murgiya Drinking Water and Sanitation Consumer (MDWC) Research Project
Introduction
Murgiya drinking water and sanitation consumer was established in the 2061 BS with the initial capital investment of Rs.1,75,86,008.00Made by the Government of Nepal in collaboration with the government of Finland. The consumer’s contribution was Rs. 28, 65,043.00 Govt. The VDC has also contributed Rs.7,50,000 for the completion of project. The MDWC is the project under study has been playing significant role in the distribution of water to the inhabitant of Sainamaina NA.PA. In ward no. 2, 3, 4 and 5. Altogether 2800 households and about +25000 peoples are directly dependent on MDC for the fulfillment of drinking water Supply. MDWC is also providing the sanitation service in its administrative area. The MDW has monopolistic role in the provision of water and sanitation service and has proved as one of the most important and trusted public service organization. The current capacity of MDW is 450,000.Liter with a high tank built in the office side surrounding located in Sainamaina NA.PA ward no.4. Since the demand of water is continuously increasing due to the increment of number of the resident in the area and rapid urbanization. Additional water tank is under construction in Sainamaina ward no.3. MDWC has management committee which comprises of 13 members who are directly elected by the consumers for the term of 3 years. The committee comprises of president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, joint secretary and 6 members in the hierarchical level. It has also 5 nominated members who are playing the suggestive role for the effective management of the MDWC .Moreover MDWC has 8 employees working as full time permanent worker. It can be seen that MDWC is playing pioneer role in the fulfillment of one of the basic need of the people in the locality. The increase in the residents and demand of water is the challenge of MDWC in the near future.
The population consists of the total 2800 consumers who are directly getting the water supply from the DWC are the resident of Sainamaina NA.PA. Consists of ward no.2, 3, 4 and 5.
Ward no.2- 274
Ward no.3- 1023
Ward no.4- 1471
Ward no.5- 32
Total: 2800 The total population will be divided into TEN CLUSTERS and each cluster will have 280 consumers.
Data Tabulation and Presentations
After the completion of questionnaire by the surveyors all the questionnaire responses are tabulated in a meaningful way for easy understanding. All the collected responses from the 140 respondents with 29 questions are converted into tabulated data format (Given in Appex 1/record of survey data). Moreover the tabulated data are further process as per the requirement for the analysis.
1. measurement:
To measure all the observed variables in this study we adopted 3-point scales. The scale ranged from V-good(3), good(2) & fair (1). Since the MWDC is providing a valuable service to fulfill the basic necessity in the community and therefore in no ground it can be bad or worse. Therefore, 3- point rating scale is used to rate the responses of the respondents. The detailed measurement item can be found in table 1 [ ]. Data variable
Variables: To meet the objectives of the present study the variables are grouped as reliability(REL), assurance (ASS), empathy and responsiveness (EMPR), tangibles (TAN), product quality (PRQ), depreciable, service seeker satisfaction (SSS). For all the variables optional choices such as a),b) & c) provided. All the options are rated as 3,2 and 1 respectively. Option a denote “very good”, option b denote “good” and option c denote “fair”. Except question no 22 ( excluded),26 and 29. Therefore, the maximum rating scale is 3 and minimum is 1.
The factor variables in the questionnaire are grouped as :
| Reliability | Q no 1 to 3 |
| Assurance | Q no 4 to 7 |
| Empathy and Responsiveness | Qno 8 to 12 |
| Tangible | Q no 13 to 15 |
| Product Quality | Qno 16 to 21 |
| Depreciable Value | Q 23 to 26 |
| Service Seeker Satisfaction | Q 27 to 29 |
Major Findings:
1. Since the mean score of reliability variables is 2.88 (on the Max 3 point scale) it can be concluded that the MDWC is providing service with highly reliability. 2. The employees of MDWC are found knowledge, politeness and are able to create trust and confidence. The average score assurance variables are 2.02, 2.24, 2.85 and 2.8 on maximum 3 and min 1 rating scale. 90.7% of consumers agreed that employees are competent and 74% feel that they are treated with respect while receiving the service. 3. It is found that MDWC is not fast in providing services as it takes more then 1 day to address the complaints. 40.7% respondents claims that MDWC is slow in providing information timely. The score on EMPR is ranges between 1 and 2 on the rating scale. It is necessary to give personal attention and care the consumers. 4. The MWDC is very well in physical facilities such as equipment, human and infrastructure. The score of the tangible are between 2 &3 on the rating scale. Only 4.3% of consumer claims that services are sometimes delayed by net and electricity problems.5. Most of the consumers responded that there is no any smell, taste in water and leakages in the pipelines. However 47.1% of the responded claims the water is cloudy and most of the consumers (80.7%) cannot drink water confidently from the tap directly. On the matter of safe drinking water (product quality) The average score is below 2. On the max 3 point rating scale which indicate low level of satisfaction in terms of quality water. It was also found strong Pearson correlation exist between quality and satisfaction 6. It was found that exist depreciable value (Undue demand) to some extend. 33.6% of respondent claim that money was demanded after the service. 16.4% also claim that the money was given by their own will may be appreciate the service.7. The overall indication made towards MDWC by the consumers are found to be good and V-good in the rating scale. 89.9% rated MDWC as good and 7.1% labeled MDWC as very good. Most of the service seeker’s are satisfied.(72.1%) with the service provider (MDWC) 7.1% are highly satisfied.Among the three factor that dissatisfy the consumers i.e. management, employees and product (water) it was found that most of the consumers (37.5) not happy with the product (water quality provided by MDWC. 45% have some dissatisfaction either with management, employees and water quality. 55% are found fine with MDWC.