Foreign Employment Department Takes Action Against 159 Recruitment Agencies

Kathmandu. The Department of Foreign Employment has taken action against 159 foreign employment business organizations for sending workers for foreign employment using Indian airports without permission. The department has also warned an additional 434 manpower companies for not submitting the details requested by the department. According to the department, fines have been imposed on Mass Human Resource, Nun Resource, Apex HR Consultancy, Tesla Overseas, Sunaguwa International, Allied International Manpower and Anjali Overseas Service, Grand Suite Job for operating flights from India without permission and not sending the details requested by the department.

The department had sought flight details of workers who went abroad with labor approval from Chaitra 1, 2082 BS to Jestha end, 2083 BS, by issuing a press release. Out of the one thousand one hundred and seventeen licensed manpower companies in operation, only 678 provided the details. During the study of the details, it was found that 159 companies had sent workers using foreign airports without the department's approval, the department informed. The Department has informed that 159 companies have been warned for the first time under Section 54 of the Foreign Employment Act, 2064 BS, for violating the provision in Section 22 of the Act, which states that workers going for foreign employment must use domestic airports. The department has also warned 434 manpower companies that did not submit the requested details for the first time, deeming them to have violated Section 37 of the Act. These companies have also been instructed to submit the details again.

The department has fined eight manpower companies that repeatedly violated laws, rules, and directives at a rate of fifty thousand rupees each. However, the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies has demanded that the department immediately review the said action process. The association has stated that the department should seek a just solution through coordination with stakeholders rather than taking action.

The association has warned that if the department does not correct the unilateral decisions that are contrary to a business-friendly environment by issuing a press release, it will have a serious impact on business and Nepali workers will be directly affected.