Decentring migration governance: the complexity in capturing migrants’ voice in local governance in Nepal

Abstract

ABSTRACT Migration studies have focused on the role of global, regional, and national actors in shaping transnational labour migration policies. However, how migrants and their families find avenues to engage in and shape migration governance in their home countries remain poorly understood. Drawing on the empirical evidence generated from a mixed-method approach involving in-depth interviews and surveys with key migration stakeholders in Nepal, this article examines various roles of international migration workers – prospective, current, and returnee – in shaping local public policies on migration governance. Findings reveal that Nepali migrant workers overseas have very tiny space in Nepal’ local governance to help (re)shape foreign employment policies. The article contributes to expanding the emerging scholarship on local migration governance in the context of labour origin countries.