• Manpower agents are reportedly frequenting power centres in a bid to reverse the government decision

Kathmandu, April 3 Various organisations today took out a rally in the capital, urging the government not to reverse its earlier decision to provide free visa and ticket to Nepali migrant workers seeking employment in six Gulf countries and Malaysia. They also said claimed that the manpower agencies were hatching conspiracies to reverse the government decision taken in favour of foreign job aspirants. They called on the government not to get influenced by manpower agents. It may be noted that then labour minister Tek Bahadur Gurung on July 6 last year had decided to provide free visa and ticket Nepali migrant workers seeking employment in six Gulf countries and Malaysia. Owners of capital-based manpower agencies who accepted the government’s decision in the beginning later took to the streets after 18 manpower agencies were raided and on fraud charge. It was then that the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies announced that they would not send Nepali migrant workers for foreign jobs until government’s decision was reversed. However most of the manpower agencies did not follow the NAFEA decision and continued their businesses. Manpower agents have reportedly been frequenting power centres in a bid to reverse the government decision. National Network for Safe Migration, an organisation working for the welfare of migrant workers, is organising various programmes, calling on the government to continue with the free ticket and visa system. It has already submitted a memorandum to the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Ministry of Labour and Employment and Foreign Employment Promotion Board seeking effective implementation of the July 6 decision, said NNSM Chairman Siddhichandra Baral.