Kathmandu, April 5

The government has released Rs 5.5 million to Nepali embassies in six labour receiving countries to provide free legal aid to Nepali migrant workers serving jail terms there.

Executive Director at Foreign Employment Promotion Board, Raghuraj Kafle, said one million rupees each has been sent to Nepali embassies in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. Likewise, the government has released Rs 500,000 for Oman. He said additional budget would be sent to the embassies as per necessity.

The board has prepared a draft of the guideline relating to legal aid for Nepali migrant workers and sent it to the Ministry of Labour and Employment. The board is also preparing to send budget for the purpose to Nepali embassies in other foreign countries.

According to the board, hundreds of Nepali workers are doing time in foreign jails and millions of rupees would be required to provide them with free legal aid.

A number of Nepalis doing time in foreign jails were caught due to language problem and the free legal aid is expected to benefit them, said a board employee.

Legal practitioners of respective foreign countries will be hired to plead on behalf of Nepali migrants working there. They will be paid by the Nepali embassies there.

There are a total of 231 Nepalis, including 12 women, languishing in jails of different labour receiving countries, excluding India, according to the Office of Prime Minister Office and Council of Ministers.