Government Launches Online Complaint System for Foreign Employment Scams

Kathmandu. The government has launched an online complaint system to easily address the problems of workers defrauded in the lure of foreign employment. 

Minister for Youth, Labour and Employment Ramji Yadav formally launched the portal named 'Ujuri DOF Government Nepal' at a program organized at the Department of Foreign Employment in Tahachal on Tuesday.

Previously, individuals defrauded in the name of foreign employment, overcharged, or sent abroad without permission had to physically appear at the department to file a complaint. Due to limited manpower and resources at the department, delays in the complaint process forced victims to bear additional expenses for accommodation and food in Kathmandu. With the launch of the online system, Minister Yadav stated that the compulsion for victims to travel to Kathmandu and wander through various agencies has ended.

Now, victims can file a complaint by visiting the portal from their own mobile or computer and collecting the necessary evidence. After the victim submits a complaint online, the department's team will study it and proceed with the registration process. As soon as the complaint is registered, the concerned person will receive information via message and email on their mobile. Using the tracking code provided in the message, victims can check the status and progress of their complaint at any time.

To make this system more effective, the Department of Foreign Employment has also integrated with the Nepal Police via API. Previously, arrest warrants issued against fraudsters were sent via email, which took time to be recorded in the police system, and there was a risk of criminals absconding abroad. Now, arrest warrants issued by the department will be directly entered into the central police system.

Speaking at the program, Minister Yadav said, 'Any person wishing to go for foreign employment faces various types of fraud and exploitation from the village to Tribhuvan International Airport.' He pointed out numerous problems such as fraud for sending abroad, overcharging, and sending people abroad without a license.

Speaking about the past compulsion, he added, 'Previously, to file a complaint in such fraud cases, one had to come to the department with evidence. Also, due to limited resources and manpower at the department, it was not possible to handle many files at the complaint and investigation branches simultaneously.' Therefore, victims had to wait for days, stay in Kathmandu, and incur unnecessary expenses, he said.

Regarding the new system, Minister Yadav said, 'To solve this very problem, we have launched this online platform. Now you don't have to travel to Kathmandu for justice, and there will be no fear of losing files. No one can suppress the voice of the victim. Now the door to justice has reached your mobile.'

Clarifying the complaint process, he added, 'Complaints can be registered by uploading the necessary evidence. Then the department's team will study and register the complaint. After registration, the complainant will receive a registration number via SMS and email. Using that number, the status of their complaint can be viewed online at any time.'

Speaking about police partnership, Minister Yadav said, 'After the investigation is completed, the case is sent to the Foreign Employment Tribunal. Once the tribunal grants permission to issue an arrest warrant, the arrest warrant is automatically updated in the police system. For this, integration has been done with the police system via API.'

In conclusion, he added, 'Previously, due to the delay in reaching the details of the fraudster in the police system, they could obtain a police clearance certificate and go abroad. Now, after an arrest warrant is issued, its details will be immediately updated in the police system, and such individuals will not be able to obtain a police clearance certificate. We believe that this will effectively control individuals involved in fraud in the name of foreign employment.'

Minister Yadav clarified that this process will prevent individuals involved in fraud from obtaining a Police Clearance Certificate and make it difficult for them to escape legal action. The ministry stated that this technology-friendly service has been launched with the objective of bringing the door of justice to the hands of the citizens.