Nepal protests Saudi Arabia's unilateral skill test for migrant workers.

Saudi Arabia has introduced a unilateral skill certification program for migrant workers in Nepal, imposing a new financial burden and making the certificate mandatory for obtaining Saudi work visas. Workers without this verification will be ineligible to secure employment in the Gulf country. The Saudi Embassy in Kathmandu has made submitting this certificate a prerequisite for visa applications.

Initially planned for June 17, the program's rollout was halted after manpower agencies vandalized a training center designated for the skill certification tests. In response, Nepal's Ministry of Youth, Labour and Employment, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has sent a diplomatic note to Saudi Arabia. The note formally requests a review of the decision, emphasizing that such issues should be resolved through bilateral discussions.

The skill certification requirement applies to five occupations: loaders, unloaders, porters, cart operators, and construction workers, though the specific categories within construction are not detailed. The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development states the program aims to verify professional skills and provide occupational recognition. Workers must register online, pay a $50 fee in U.S. dollars, and pass a three-hour test. They are allowed up to three attempts, with failure barring them from employment in Saudi Arabia. The program is reportedly being implemented in all labor-sending countries.

Nepal's Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA) describes the system as a "digital control" mechanism. While the official examination fee is $50 (approximately Rs7,000), a private company, Sai Vision Pvt Ltd, is charging workers Rs10,000, including service fees. An additional fee of $50 is set for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), though the process remains unclear. The visa application system now mandates the skill verification certificate, preventing applications without it.

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This issue should be resolved through bilateral discussions. We have sent a diplomatic note requesting a review of the decision.