The Government of Nepal has decided to end the token-based system for labor approval required for foreign employment and will now provide approval on the same day an application is submitted.
Previously, applicants had to obtain a token and receive approval only on the assigned date. The decision was made during a meeting held on Sunday in the presence of Deepak Kumar Sah, Minister for Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, to make the labor approval process more convenient.
The ministry also decided to develop audio-visual materials based on the pre-departure orientation curriculum and make them available through digital platforms. Orientation training will be made fully online.
An अभियान (campaign) will be launched to enroll all workers in the Social Security Fund Nepal. The ministry stated that full implementation of the minimum wage for workers will be ensured.
Other decisions include internalizing the “Shramadhan” program, making the Shramadhan call center more systematic and effective, conducting risk assessments in industrial establishments to promote occupational health and safety, promoting production and entrepreneurship to create domestic employment, and expanding bilateral labor agreements with five additional countries.
The ministry noted that these discussions were based on the 100-point governance reform agenda approved by the Cabinet on Chaitra 13. Minister Sah directed officials to immediately prepare action plans and implement the relevant items to make the labor and employment sector more organized, dignified, and safe, and to protect workers’ rights.
The meeting also discussed studying the safety, minimum wage assurance, workplace safety, working environment, and health conditions of Nepalis in foreign employment to develop minimum standards. Plans were outlined to provide skill development training linked to employment, organize skill fairs in all provinces in collaboration with the private sector, promote domestic employment, make service delivery more citizen-friendly, and take effective measures to control fraud committed in the name of foreign employment.
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