Kathmandu, June 17

The International Relations and Labour Committee (IRLC) under the Legislature-Parliament on Friday directed the government and Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) to include the clause of only using formal banking channels when Nepali migrant workers send money home when signing or renewing labour agreements with the destination countries.

The IRLC has also directed the government, Ministry of Finance and Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) to introduce a policy for mandatory payment of related commission and necessary fees to the government when Nepali migrant workers remit money back home through the banking channel.

The directive also calls for stringent measures against organisations or individuals found to be involved in bringing remittance money through ‘Hundi service’.

The committee has asked for coordination and cooperation between NRB, Revenue Investigation Department, Money Laundering Investigation Department and Nepal Police’s Central Investigation Bureau to stop such transactions.

IRLC has also pressed for withholding renewal of permit letters for manpower firms that have not complied with the decision taken two years ago demanding submission of details related to its work.

Lawmakers also aired their reservations against absence of Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Labour Minister Deepak Bohara and MoLE’s secretary though they had been invited to attend the meeting. However, joint secretaries of both ministries were present.

IRLC has also decided to take up the issue of summoned representatives not showing up for meetings time and again with prime minister.