APD | Labor deal signed between Nepal and Malaysia

By APD writer Ishwar Khanal

KATHMANDU, Oct.29 (APD) -- Nepal and Malaysia on Monday signed a labor pact in Kathmandu.

Minister for Labor, Gokarna Bista, and his Malaysian counterpart M. Kula Segaran signed a labor pact amid a function in the capital. Malaysia's Minister of Human Resources M. Kula Segaran had arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday to sign the bilateral agreement.

First of its kind, the deal is expected to pave the way for sending Nepali migrant workers to Malaysia. According to the MoU, Malaysia will bear all expenses of Nepali migrant workers to go to Malaysia, which is considered as one of the most rewarding destinations for Nepali workers.

On September 2018, the Malaysian government had agreed that the Malaysian companies will bear all the costs incurred by the Nepali youths, and has accepted Nepal’s previous proposal of free visa and a free ticket to migrant workers.

The amounts charged in fees by the recruiting agencies were a big burden for the Nepali youths coming from the poor economic background.

According to reports, more than 500,000 Nepali youths are currently working in Malaysia. On average, 300 to 400 youths were flying daily to Malaysia for migrant works before the process of hiring was halted in May.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)