Lack of Coordination Between Foreign Employment and Immigration Departments Causes Issues for Workers

There is a lack of coordination between the Foreign Employment Department and the Immigration Department regarding the necessary documents for foreign employment. While the Foreign Employment Department has mandated the presentation of airline tickets, bills, and service fee receipts, the Immigration Department has clarified that only the passport and labor approval are required. The Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs Association has demanded the removal of the service fee receipt requirement, stating it will inconvenience workers without policy reforms. Kathmandu, March 30.

A coordination gap has emerged between the Foreign Employment Department and the Immigration Department concerning workers going abroad for employment. Jurisdictional disputes between the two departments over sending workers overseas have been recurrent. Currently, a disagreement exists between the two agencies regarding additional documents required from foreign employment workers at the airport. The Foreign Employment Department issued a notice that airline tickets, the ticket bill, and service fee receipts submitted to manpowers must be presented compulsorily at the airport.

However, the Immigration Department has clarified that the minimum required documents are only the labor approval and passport. This has resurfaced the conflict between the two agencies. Previously, in Ashad 2080 (mid-2023), after workers with labor approvals from the Foreign Employment Department bound for Jordan and Kuwait were sent back from Tribhuvan International Airport, a dispute erupted between the departments. The Immigration Department had returned 138 Nepali workers traveling to Kuwait.

In a statement, the Immigration Department expressed its commitment to operate within its jurisdiction and emphasized resolving labor issues through discussion, coordination, and cooperation among concerned bodies. On Chaitra 23 (early April), the Foreign Employment Department issued a notice requiring those going abroad for employment to present airline tickets, bills, and service fee receipts at the airport.

Generally, only a passport, labor approval, and airline ticket are necessary for travel. Mahesh Basnet, General Secretary of the Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs Association, stated that since the Foreign Employment Act is undergoing revision, unnecessary decisions should not be made without necessary policy reforms. Officials from the Ministry of Labor have also indicated they have not received sufficient information about the department’s new notice.