KATHMANDU, JUL 09 – The Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (Nafea) started an indefinite strike on Wednesday protesting government’s decision to provide free visa and free air ticket to migrant workers going to the Gulf countries and Malaysia for employment.
Around 2,000 service seekers from across the country were affected as the recruiting agencies and agents shut down the front desk office of the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) on the first day.
Nafea protest starts just two days after the government made it mandatory for employers in seven work destinations to issue free visa and free ticket in order to hire Nepali workers.
Recruiting agencies said they would continue obstruction at the department until the government rolls back the “controversial” provision. Bimal Dhakal, Nafea chairperson, said the government should have taken the labour receiving countries into confidence before enforcing the provision but it was announced in haste to displace them from the business.