The Ministry of Labor and Transport Management (MoLTM) also decided to request the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to end the existing practice of stamping "not valid for travel to Iraq" in passports and initiate diplomatic efforts to ensure security and continuation of jobs in Iraq. [break]
The MoLTM also decided to inform the governments of Iraq and the US through the MoFA about the government decision.
However, MoLTM decided not to issue new permission for jobs in Iraq immediately given the inadequate information about the job market in Iraq for Nepali migrant workers.
The ministry has stated that the decision over whether to allow Nepalis to work in Iraq will be taken after assessing and reviewing different aspects of jobs available in Iraq, including security, nature of work, necessary trainings, service charge and promotional cost to be levied by manpower agencies.
"We took the decision to lift the ban considering the improvement in security situation, job security and safety of thousands of Nepali working in Iraq. However, we will take a decision to reopen the Iraqi job market for new job seekers after studying security and remuneration of workers as well as necessary cost and training for worker”," said MoLTM Spokesperson Purna Chandra Bhattarai on Wednesday.
The US command had given a 20-day ultimatum on July 20 to more than 30,000 Nepalis to prove their legal stay in Iraq or leave the country by August 9, forcing the government to revoke the ban that has been in place since September 1, 2004 following the brutal killing of 12 Nepali workers by Islamic armed militants in Iraq.
However, large number of Nepali workers continued to reach restive Iraq through clandestine channels despite the ban.
Foreign job agencies object
Meanwhile, manpower agencies have taken strong exception to the government decision to lift the ban on Nepali workers in Iraq without punishing those who are involved in sending workers there despite the ban.
"Though the government decision is for the welfare of workers in Iraq, it failed punish those who violated the ban. This has given a clean chit to wrong doers and encouraged law violator," said Hansa Raj Wagle, first vice president of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA).
prabhakar@myrepublica.com
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