Unfounded allegations

The absence of caste data in NLMR was not intended to perpetuate the myth that migration is casteless.

The op-ed ‘ Caste and Labour Migration ’ by Ayushman Bhagat and Ankita Shrestha ( The Kathmandu Post , December 21, 2025) makes some strong, albeit unfounded allegations against the Nepal Labour Migration Report (NLMR) and its authors. This article, on behalf of the research team and the organisation that provided technical support in preparing the report, the Centre for the Study of Labour and Mobility (CESLAM) at Social Science Baha, responds to these allegations while also highlighting what is covered in the report and what can be done further to improve Nepali migrant workers’ experiences.