Concerns grow over foreign employment as Nepali agencies halt process
Summary
Nepali manpower agencies have halted labour migration processing, demanding withdrawal of disciplinary action against 771 companies and a new service fee structure. The move could disrupt departures for thousands of workers and affect remittance inflows that are vital to Nepal’s economy.
Key Points
- The Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies has stopped processing labour migration from Friday until the government addresses its 15-point charter.
- The association wants disciplinary action against 771 manpower companies withdrawn and demands a scientific service fee structure and amendments to the Foreign Employment Act, 2007.
- The suspension could affect hundreds of thousands of Nepali workers and put pressure on remittance inflows, which are a major source of foreign exchange for Nepal.
- The Labour Ministry says it is already preparing legal changes and discussing service fees, while trade unions oppose shifting recruitment costs onto workers.
