KATHMANDU, Feb 4: Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Rajendra Singh Bhandari has pledged to remove unnecessary hassles faced by Nepali citizens aspiring to work abroad, stating that the government is committed to protecting migrant workers from exploitation.
Speaking at a half-year review meeting of the departments and offices under the ministry, Minister Bhandari said the government would scrap the ‘free visa, free ticket’ provision, mandatory orientation and existing work procedures within a month. He argued that these arrangements, introduced in the name of supporting workers, were in practice defrauding youths seeking foreign employment.
The minister said all fraudulent schemes, including syndicates operating under the guise of labourers’ rights, would be annulled within the same timeframe. He added that workers were being trapped by complicated and misleading employment procedures.
Govt prepares to scrap all controversial cabinet decisions
Earlier, the Minister had scrapped the health fee imposed on those opting for foreign employment, reasoning that it was excessive. "It is wrong to afflict laborers by showing the policy and rules," he said, adding that all sorts of syndicates would be dismantled during his tenure.
According to him, the ministry itself would conduct free check-ups of the labourers, organise pre-departure orientation and issue labour permits.
During the review meeting, Vice Chair of the National Planning Commission, Dr Prakash Kumar Shrestha, suggested that the ministry officials not overlap the activities of various subordinate bodies.
He further recommended to the ministry that it stop allocating budget from different agencies for similar tasks.
Labour Secretary Deepak Kafle directed the heads of the divisions and departments to speed up the projects which have not made over 16 percent progress.
RSS
