Submit your Article

Various programs were organized to observe World Polio Day on Thursday.

In his video message on this occasion, Minister for Health and Population, Pradeep Paudel, has urged one and all to contribute to the global campaign to eradicate poliomyelitis (polio).

Through the message, he has called on all parents/guardians to ensure a full-course of polio vaccination for their children within a year of the birth, supporting make the campaign successful.

Expressing his concerns over the detection of sporadic cases of polio in the country, the minister said this suggests the polio risk in the country.  He added that some countries in the world have also reported the presence of poliovirus, highlighting its global risk. He insisted on its eradication across from the world.

The poliovirus is spread person-to-person through a fecal-oral route and by the consumption of polluted food and water.

The oral polio vaccine is administered to a child at six, 10 and14 weeks and the inactivated polio vaccine is given twice: at 14 weeks and nine months.

Chief of Child Health and Immunization Section, Department of Health Services, Dr Abhiyan Gautam, said though people of all age groups may get polio, it mainly affects children under five.

This devastating disease is highly contagious and its symptoms include fever, diarrhea, vomiting, body ache and fatigue and the severity can lead to irreversible paralysis and even death.

It can be prevented through vaccination and the maintenance of personal hygiene; intake of purified water and hygienic food are recommended for minimizing its risk.

It may be  noted that with the detection of poliovirus in sewage samples collected from Teku, the confluence of Tukucha and Bagamti rivers last July, the government had launched a special polio vaccination drive, targeting children under five in the three districts of Kathmandu  Valley. 

Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) President Chandra Prasad Dhakal urged the global community to consider investment in Nepal.

President Dhakal, who is currently in the USA to attend the annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), highlighted the enabling environment for foreign investment in Nepal and the amendments to legislations to facilitate the foreign investment.

During the meeting with high-ranking officials of these agencies on Wednesday, he also pledged necessary coordination on the part of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) to facilitate foreign investors considering investment in Nepal.

During the meeting with Imad Fakhoury, International Finance Corporation (IFC)'s Regional Director for South Asia, Dhakal discussed IFC's role in empowering the private sector of Nepal.

Talks on economic recessions in the wake of COVID-pandemic and conflict between Russia and Ukraine and repercussions of these two factors Nepal's economy also figured in the meeting, Dhakal shared.

Following the meeting, Dhakal mentioned that the two dwelled on potential areas for foreign investment in Nepal including hydro power, tourism infrastructures and Information Technology and thereby calling on the global community to consider investment in these areas.

The meeting was attended by IFC's other officials as well as representatives of the FNCCI.

Similarly, Dhakal held a meeting with British International Investment's Executive Director Samir Abhyankar on last Wednesday itself during which they discussed increasing investment on Nepal's tourism and hospitality sector, hydro power and infrastructure sectors considering the tremendous potentials of these sectors.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Bishnu Poudel who arrived in Washington in the course of attending the annual meetings of the World Bank Group (WBG) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday held a meeting with WBG's Vice President for South Asia Region, Martin Raiser.

According to the Nepali Embassy here, the discussion was focused on generating employment opportunities in Nepal.

Matters related to the improvement of the business environment, implementation of mega infrastructure projects and generation of employment opportunities in Nepal through remittance inflow were discussed on the occasion.

Meanwhile, the WBG has agreed to extend support to Nepal for the post-disaster reconstruction. The agreement to this effect was signed by the Government of Nepal and the World Bank.

Finance Secretary Ram Prasad Ghimire and World Bank's representative for Nepal David Sislen signed the agreement paper.

According to the agreement, the World Bank would provide Nepal with the assistance amounting to USD 150 million.

It was informed in the agreement signing ceremony that the resource would be mobilized for addressing health complications stemming from natural and climate change in Nepal.

The agreement was signed in the presence of DPM and Finance Minister Poudel and World Bank's Vice President for South Asia Region Raiser.

Germany is gradually easing its laws on citizenship, immigration and visas to attract migrant workers to address increasing labor shortages. As a result, the European nation is becoming an appealing destination for youth seeking jobs and education for countries like Nepal. Many Nepali students and migrant workers are currently heading to countries such as the US, Canada, Australia, and the Middle East. 

Germany needs 400,000 foreign workers annually to bridge its labor gap, according to the country’s Federal Employment Office. Recent data shows that 10,670 Nepali workers and students have already chosen Germany. Nepali citizens can apply for a German work visa if they meet any of the following criteria: completion of a recognized training course or study program, a degree equivalent to a German qualification, a degree recognized in Germany, at least five years of professional or academic experience, vocational training, and German language proficiency.

In 2023, the German Parliament passed legislation aimed at attracting workers from non-European countries. Germany is now looking at South Asia and Southeast Asian countries for skilled laborers to keep its economy moving. The new law prioritizes work experience over academic qualifications, allows foreign workers to bring their families, and offers a pathway to citizenship. Germany has also relaxed its citizenship policy—anyone with five years of work experience in Germany and strong German language skills can apply for citizenship. This shift is driven by an aging population, with baby boomers retiring and birth rates steadily declining.

Germany’s population is at risk of long-term decline, with a birth rate of only 1.5 children per woman—below the two children needed to sustain the population. Without immigration, this trend is expected to continue. After a baby boom in the 1960s, birth rates began to decline from the 1980s onward. According to DW, there have been significant changes in birth patterns in a long-term comparison with 2013. In 2013, 49.4 percent of births were first children, 34.4 percent were second children, and 16.1 percent were third or subsequent children. However, between 2013 and 2023, the proportion of first-born children has decreased, while births to third or later children have increased.

According to migration expert Frank Burgdörfer, most women in the 1970s had children in their early 20s, but today, they are more likely to have children in their 30s. Without migration, Germany’s population will continue to shrink, while the number of people requiring care is steadily rising, he added.

Germany’s labor market is now facing multiple challenges. Unemployment is gradually declining, while job vacancies are increasing daily. According to Burgdörfer, sectors with high demand include finishing and dry construction, geriatric care, industrial glass production, metal production and construction, building construction, and vehicle and aircraft manufacturing.

In eastern Germany, 39.7 percent of businesses are struggling with skilled labor shortages, compared to a lower 31.8 percent in Hessen and Rhineland-Palatinate, according to Burgdörfer. Employers in many eastern regions face particular challenges in recruiting highly skilled young workers due to a noticeable decline in the working-age population and low net migration. Structurally weak rural areas and small towns are especially vulnerable, potentially falling behind economically as a result, he added.

Official statistics show that the working-age population is expected to shrink by 1.6m to 4.8m over the next 15 years, while the number of people reaching retirement age (67 or older) will increase significantly throughout the 2020s and 2030s.

Germany plans to attract 400,000 skilled workers annually. But there are various challengers. High taxes and the difficult German language pose major barriers, especially as Germany competes with the USA, Canada and China for talent. Following the Russia-Ukraine war and other global conflicts, Germany has seen an influx of refugees. However, integrating them into the workforce has proven challenging due to language barriers and lack of vocational skills. While humanitarian immigration has increased, it has not translated effectively into meeting Germany's skilled labor demands.

Various German institutions, including the Goethe Institute, are working to support successful integration into the German labor market. According to Schengen News, Germany granted 80,000 work visas in the first half of 2024, with 40,000 issued to skilled workers—3,000 more compared to the same period of 2023.

Ralph Heck, chairperson of the Bertelsmann Foundation, said that population aging is evident across almost all German states. The percentage of people aged 65 and above is projected to increase from 22 percent in 2020 to 28 percent in 2040, while the working-age population will decline from 54 percent to 48 percent.

A March 2024 report by the Federal Institute for Population Research revealed that live births in 2023 fell to their lowest level since 2009. The birth rate dropped from 1.57 per woman in 2021 to approximately 1.36 in autumn 2023. According to the report, West Germany's birth rate has historically remained low, fluctuating between 1.2 and 1.4 children per woman for four decades after 1975.

Germany’s most in-demand professions include green jobs, nursing professionals, physicians, engineers, IT specialists, scientists, craftspeople, and various healthcare roles such as dental assistants, medical assistants, veterinary assistants, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists and podiatrists. Nepal and Germany signed an agreement for legal labor migration in October last year. Labor ministry officials say Germany is looking to recruit some 3,000 workers from Nepal.