Saudi Arabia halts visas for Nepali workers needing skill certificates after Nepal seals testing centre

Saudi Arabia has halted the issuance of work visas for Nepali laborers who need mandatory skill verification certificates. This action follows the sealing of the Industrial Training Institute in Kathmandu, the sole center authorized to conduct these assessments, by the Nepali government. The Saudi Arabian embassy cited the institute's lack of legal authorization as the reason for suspending visa processing for workers requiring Skill Verification Programme (SVP) certification.

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We have asked recruitment agencies not to submit visa applications for jobs where Saudi Arabia has made skill verification certificates mandatory.

The shutdown has cast a shadow of uncertainty over thousands of Nepali migrant workers who rely on Saudi Arabia, a major labor market, for employment. Mahesh Kumar Basnet, senior vice-president of the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies, advised recruitment agencies to halt visa applications for jobs mandating SVP certification. He criticized a private institution for creating a monopoly in skill testing, imposing financial burdens on workers.

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A private institution has created a monopoly in the name of skill testing, piling financial burden on workers. This is unacceptable.

Saudi Arabia requires these skill certificates for jobs including loading and unloading, portering, cart operation, and construction. While the official examination fee is $50 (approximately Rs7,500), a private company, Sai Vision Pvt Ltd, has been collecting Rs10,000, including service charges, for arranging the process. The details of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) system, for which the $50 charge is intended, remain unclear.

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The labour minister has been in talks with the Saudi ambassador. A diplomatic note has also been sent.

Nepal's Ministry of Youth, Labour and Employment confirmed ongoing discussions with Saudi authorities to resolve the issue, including diplomatic communication. Nepali labor officials maintain that the SVP program itself is not stopped, but rather the specific institute lacked the proper authority. They advocate for a skill testing mechanism based on bilateral agreement, ensuring worker interests are protected and costs are not unfairly borne by laborers. A labor agreement signed in January between Nepal and Saudi Arabia stipulates that recruitment issues are to be handled by a joint technical committee.

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The process should be based on a bilateral agreement. Skill tests should be limited to occupations where workers’ abilities can be properly assessed, rather than being imposed on ordinary labourers. The government must also ensure that workers are not forced to bear the cost.