KATHMANDU, May 7: The government has issued a statement cautioning Nepali citizens regarding the rising instances of fraudulent activities, luring people with promises of attractive employment opportunities abroad.
The Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security (MoLESS) has directed Nepali youth to remain alert and cautious amidst the surge in fraudulent schemes, duping people in the name of sending them to Europe, America, Japan, Korea, Israel, and other affluent nations for attractive jobs.
MoLESS has warned that legal action will be taken per the Foreign Employment Act, 2064 BS against anyone found involved in fraudulent activities related to foreign employment.
Fraud on the rise in foreign employment
As per Section 43 of the Act, if any individual or organization engages in foreign employment activities without obtaining the license, or if funds are transferred abroad under pretenses or inducements of employment, there are legal measures that allow for the recovery of the amount transferred, along with a 50 percent fine.
Moreover, legal provisions dictate fines ranging from Rs 300,000 to Rs 500,000 and imprisonment for three to seven years for facilitating illegal migration for employment purposes.
THe ministry, in its statement, reaffirmed its commitment, along with subordinate agencies and other regulatory government agencies, to control such illegal practices.
It clarified that its attention had been drawn against instances of fraudulent inducements for overseas employment, including the dissemination of misleading information via social media regarding employment prospects in Europe, America, Japan, Korea, Israel and other countries.
Furthermore, MoLESS cautioned against the exploitation of ordinary citizens for financial gain through various deceptive tactics related to foreign employment.
The ministry has made it clear that it is making maximum efforts to control fraud in this sector by making the necessary policies, legal, and institutional mechanisms to make foreign employment safe and dignified.
The ministry has urged those seeking employment opportunities abroad to consider three criteria: One, going to a country with which Nepal has a G2G agreement; two, going abroad for employment through an authorized institution after completing all official and legal procedures; and three, if one is going through one’s individual efforts, doing so only after signing labor agreements with the foreign employer and receiving visas approved by the employer country.
