Govt urged to make arrangements for returning stranded Nepalis abroad

Kathmandu / Aug 10: The International Relations and Labour Committee under the Legislature-Parliament has directed the government to arrange for the return of the Nepali migrant workers in Saudi Arabia who are stranded after losing jobs to the economic slump seen in that country.

A meeting of the committee today issued directives to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Labour and Employment to bring back the stranded workers by maintaining coordination.

The committee also directed the Ministry of Labour and Employment to formulate the required standard to free the Nepalis, who after their conviction in different offences in the Gulf countries including in Saudi Arabia, are compelled to remain in prison for their inability to even deposit the minimum bail amount after making arrangement for the bail amount.

The committee meeting today also decided to constitute a five-member investigation committee regarding the works carried out and the extent of the utilisation of the amount allocated for the plans and programmes of the last fiscal year.

The investigation committee will also give suggestions regarding the reforms needed in the existing structure, plan and policy for achieving the goal set by the Foreign Employment Promotion Board.

Speaking in the meeting before this, several MPs vented their ire at the Ministry and the Board accusing them of not taking the necessary effective efforts even though many Nepalis are compelled to remain in jail in foreign countries for their inability to submit the ‘blood money’.

They asked the Ministry representatives why the amount deposited in the Welfare Fund was not used in the aid of the Nepali workers who are facing this situation despite the deposition of billions of rupees in the fund. Every person going on foreign employment has to deposit Rs 1,000 in the fund. The fund now has Rs 3.73 billion. RSS