Malaysia halts recruitment of Nepali workers amid manpower agency dispute
Summary
Malaysia has suspended recruitment of unskilled Nepali workers amid a dispute over manpower agency selection, freezing new calling visas and health screenings. Nepal is pushing for talks while authorities move to investigate the selected agencies and resolve the standoff through diplomatic channels.
Key Points
- Malaysia has halted biomedical screenings and new calling visas for Nepali worker recruitment after a dispute over agency selection.
- Nepal’s labour ministry has rejected Malaysia’s unilateral choice of 25 principal recruitment agencies and proposed a Joint Working Group meeting to settle the issue.
- The Department of Foreign Employment has launched legal action against the proprietors of the selected agencies, issuing warrants and raiding offices.
- The suspension is a major blow to Nepal’s foreign employment sector, with Malaysia accounting for a large share of remittance inflows and overseas jobs.
