News Summary
Editorial review completed.
- The Department of Foreign Employment took action against 598 manpower companies, causing upheaval among entrepreneurs.
- Entrepreneurs warned they will halt the process of sending workers if their 15-point demands are not met within 15 days.
- Department Director General Mira Acharya stated that illegal activities are unacceptable and the actions taken are lawful.
August 23, Kathmandu – Following action against 598 manpower entrepreneurs by the Department of Foreign Employment, the sector has expressed outrage.
They have issued warnings that workers will be sent under previous demands within the next 15 days, after which the process of sending workers abroad will be suspended, alongside other pressure tactics.
The department had issued warnings to these companies for sending workers via Indian airports, which is unauthorized. For not complying with the second directive, eight companies were fined 50,000 NPR each.
Entrepreneurs have protested what they say is unjustified action by the department, demanding the withdrawal of penalties and an end to harassment.
The Nepal Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs Association has declared that they will send workers as per their demands within 15 days and engage in discussions with the government during this period.
They have also threatened a complete halt to sending workers from the 16th day onwards if their demands are not addressed.
The association plans to initiate nationwide protests and pressure campaigns, including shutting down all foreign employment worker dispatch processes if the government does not meet their demands.
During a large entrepreneurs’ meeting in Kathmandu on Thursday, manpower entrepreneurs expressed anger, accusing the state of attempting to criminalize them.
The department’s recent actions were criticized as a “planned attack on entrepreneurs.” They have appealed to revoke penalties related to using Indian airports, end mistreatment, set scientifically determined service charges, eliminate the 13% VAT on tickets, and abolish the SVP and syndicate applied for Saudi Arabia, among their 15-point demands.
Association president Dick Bahadur Khatri alleged that the government is trying to criminalize entrepreneurs over matters previously approved.
He recalled that in 2024, the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation jointly authorized the use of Indian airports for sending workers. He called the new actions deeming it illegal and punitive unjust.
He demanded the withdrawal of the department’s decision, stating entrepreneurs are now being punished for implementing government-approved decisions.
Highlighting that the foreign employment sector has sent over eight million Nepalis abroad and remittances are a major economic pillar, entrepreneurs lamented that instead of respect, the government treats them with suspicion.
They accused authorities of cracking down unnecessarily without clear policies, increasing hardships for entrepreneurs.
The department had requested flight details for workers sent abroad with labor approval from Chaitra 1, 2082 to Jestha 31, 2083. Out of 1,117 operational manpower companies, only 678 submitted details.
156 companies were warned initially for sending workers through foreign airports without department approval.
434 companies that failed to provide details were penalized for not following instructions.
Eight companies repeatedly disregarding orders were fined 50,000 NPR each under Section 54 of the Foreign Employment Act for flights departing from India without approval and for failing to submit requested data.
Fusion International Pvt. Ltd. claimed it submitted data but was still penalized. Its director Kumud Khanal said the department’s action caused losses amounting to 500 workers’ demands.
“Due to the department director general’s actions, my company lost demand for 500 workers. Some limited-interest entrepreneurs smeared my reputation internationally; the government must be held accountable. Nine years of hard work wiped out,” Khanal expressed in frustration.
Multiple entrepreneurs reported being penalized despite providing data.
Advisor of the National Independent Entrepreneurs Group, Balkrishna Shrestha, labeled the Skill Verification Program (SVP) and Qualification Verification Program (QVP) imposed on workers heading to Saudi Arabia as a new syndicate.
According to them, such programs impose additional financial burdens on workers and impose strict rules only on institutional manpower agencies. They called for simpler demand certification processes and an end to discrimination in individual labor approvals.
Entrepreneur Taranath Aryal pointed out that accusations of collecting money from workers are directed at entrepreneurs, while the government remains silent on the 13% VAT and additional charges on tickets. He asserted that negotiation and correspondence will no longer resolve these issues and called for a united movement by entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurs accused the department of viewing them as “thieves” and “brokers.” They complained that while there is corruption in individual labor approvals, monitoring and penalties occur only for institutional operations. Some entrepreneurs suggested that time for talks and petitions has ended and urged decisive action via protests.
The meeting submitted a 15-point demand list to the government, including withdrawing penalties based on Indian airport usage, ending mistreatment, transparent labor costs, scientifically determined minimum service charges equivalent to one month’s salary, ending the Saudi SVP and visa center syndicates, removing the 13% VAT on tickets, fully online demand certification, curbing irregularities in individual labor approvals, managing interest on security deposits, and investigating biometric syndicates.
Another entrepreneur, Pragyan Nyaupane, accused the department director general of trying to paint entrepreneurs as thieves and fraudsters. He stressed that no crime was committed regarding Indian airport usage and insisted that government directives were followed.
No Agreement or Deal Can Override the Law: Director General Acharya
The Department of Foreign Employment stated that the Foreign Employment Act is being enforced. Director General Mira Acharya clarified that activities violating the law are unacceptable and that agreements or understandings cannot supersede legislation.
She emphasized that enforcing the law is everyone’s responsibility and entrepreneurs must also cooperate.
She explained that the department will verify compliance and does not need to issue additional notices.
She further stated that the ‘special circumstances’ and maintenance periods ended two years ago and that violations cannot be justified under special circumstances.
