Foreign Employment Department Warns Manpower Agencies: Strict Action If Pending Complaints Are Not Resolved Promptly

The Foreign Employment Department has instructed manpower agencies to promptly address and resolve workers’ old complaints and petitions. The department has warned that agencies failing to resolve or deliberately ignoring these complaints will face legal action under the Foreign Employment Act 2064. Agencies holding licenses but not fulfilling their obligations according to prior settlements and agreements will also be subject to penalties. Dated 21 Jestha, Kathmandu.

The department has issued directives to swiftly resolve long-standing complaints and petitions filed against manpower agencies. These complaints pertain to workers who obtained labor permits to go abroad, those who encountered various problems overseas, or those who have returned from foreign employment. The department has directed the concerned manpower agencies to promptly finalize these registered complaints and petitions. In an official notice, the department emphasized that resolving complaints registered with the Relief and Rescue Branch and addressing grievances related to illegal activities in foreign employment is the responsibility of the manpower agencies themselves.

Despite repeated correspondence, contacts, and directives issued to manpower companies to address and resolve complaints fairly, a satisfactory resolution has not yet been achieved. Prioritizing the welfare of workers, the department has urged all concerned licensed agencies to mandatory settle all complaints and petitions under review. Furthermore, the department has warned that failure to resolve complaints or defiance will result in legal proceedings as per Sections 36 and 57 of the Foreign Employment Act 2064.

The department has called upon all licensed agencies to actively discharge their legal responsibilities by resolving workers’ grievances. According to Section 36, if an employer institution fails to meet the terms specified in a contract, workers or their representatives can file complaints with the department, supported by evidence. Following necessary investigations, the department mandates manpower agencies to compensate for all expenses incurred by workers preparing for foreign employment. Under Section 57, if a fault is identified within a licensed agency, the responsible officer or employee will be held liable and penalized; if the responsible individual is unidentified, the firm, company, or head of the institution will be punished. The department further warned that agencies who have previously settled with workers but failed to resolve the issues will face strict penalties.