Speaking during the 18th annual general meeting of the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA) here today, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala said that the ministry is holding talks with the countries concerned. “They will soon establish their embassies here in Nepal,” she said, adding that both Nepali migrant workers and manpower agencies will benefit from the opening up of the embassies as the number of Nepali migrant workers heading to these countries is increasing steadily.

Similarly, Minister for Labour and Transport Management Mohammad Aftab Alam said the government is ready to facilitate the manpower agencies. “However, they have to be honest and must not cheat people,” he added.

“The government has to bring carrot-and-stick policy,” said NAFEA president Tilak Ranabhat. “Punish the wrong-doers and award the good ones,” he added.

The association asked the government to include foreign employment sector in the ‘service industry’.

Speaking on the same occasion, NAFEA general secretary Gyan Prasad Gaire informed that NAFEA is going to organise ‘employment fair’ in Saudi Arabia in the near future.

Around 700 Nepalis leave the country daily in search of ‘greener pasture’. “The man power agencies have to be recognised for their contribution,” he said, adding that remittance is a lifeline for the country. “We have been instrumental in bringing remittance in the country by sending more migrant workers,” Gaire claimed.

The association has also asked the government to scrap two per cent service tax levied on man power agencies and are looking to get this done in the next budget, while they are also working towards providing and protecting the rights and welfare of migrant workers.

This year alone 2.4 million migrant workers left for overseas to work with the approval of the Department of Foreign Employment. According to Nepal Rastra Bank, Nepal received Rs 192 billion as remittance in the fiscal year 2008-09.

The remittance contributes around 21 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Meanwhile, NAFEA is holding an election for the new executive committee. Two candidates are vying for the post of president.