Nepal penalizes 159 agencies for illegal migrant worker routing via India

Nepal's Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) has taken action against 159 recruitment agencies for illegally routing migrant workers through Indian airports. These agencies sent workers overseas via India without the required prior authorization from the DoFE.

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The department has also issued warnings to 434 other manpower companies that failed to submit mandatory records on workers’ departures, giving them a final opportunity to comply.

In addition to the penalties, 434 other manpower companies were issued warnings for failing to submit mandatory records on workers' departures. These companies have been given a final opportunity to comply with the department's directives.

The DoFE's crackdown follows a recent directive requiring all licensed recruitment agencies to submit details of workers who traveled abroad between March 15 and June 14 after obtaining labor permits. The department stated that this measure is crucial for identifying agencies that bypassed Nepalese airports.

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Officials say the practice increased after the government tightened oversight of service fees charged by recruitment agencies, prompting some firms to use Indian airports to avoid greater scrutiny.

Officials noted that the practice of using Indian airports intensified after the government tightened its oversight on service fees charged by recruitment agencies. Some firms resorted to using foreign transit points to avoid greater scrutiny. The Foreign Employment Act, 2007, mandates that migrant workers depart through Nepalese airports, though foreign airports can be used under exceptional circumstances with prior DoFE approval.

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Recruitment agencies, however, argue that soaring airfares and a shortage of international flights following heightened tensions in West Asia forced them to use Indian airports.

Recruitment agencies, however, cited soaring airfares and a shortage of international flights, particularly due to heightened tensions in West Asia, as reasons for using Indian airports. Despite these claims, a review of submitted flight records revealed that 159 agencies had indeed routed workers through foreign airports without the necessary approval. Eight agencies were fined Rs50,000 each for repeated violations and ignoring departmental directives. The DoFE data indicates that 722,000 Nepalis left for foreign employment in the current fiscal year up to June 14, with 242,000 deployed through licensed agencies.

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The department issued formal warnings to the 159 agencies under Section 54 of the Foreign Employment Act, treating the cases as first-time violations.