The government is starting a review of the “Free Visa Free Ticket” policy to save Nepali migrant workers from taking heavy loans or selling their properties just to go abroad for work.
The government is preparing to make foreign employment policies more practical and helpful. Minister for Youth, Labour, and Employment Ramji Yadav announced that they are reviewing the current “Free Visa Free Ticket” policy to stop workers from taking expensive loans, selling land, or mortgaging family jewelry just to go abroad.
Review of Free Visa Free Ticket Policy
Speaking at the 5th Nepal Forum on Migration and Development, organized by the ministry and IOM, Minister Yadav mentioned that the “Free Visa Free Ticket” policy started in 2015 has mostly remained on paper. Because of this, the government has started process to review it to make it actually work on the ground.
The minister explained that once the amended draft of Foreign Employment Act 2064 is passed, its implementation will be much stronger. The new rules will reward those who follow the law and give harsher punishments to those who violate it. Additionally, the entire recruitment process will be digitized to make it transparent, accountable, and easy to monitor.
The Bitter Reality for Migrant Workers
Sharing his experience of 100 days in office, Minister Yadav said he already knew about the issues with the “Free Visa Free Ticket” policy before becoming minister. To solve this, a high-level task force has been formed to regulate the system scientifically.
He spoke about the bitter truth where workers must pay huge interest rates on loans, sell their land, or keep their wives’ jewelry as collateral to go abroad. A study done at Tribhuvan International Airport showed that many workers do not even reveal the actual amount of money they paid because they are scared of losing their jobs.
Currently, only about 7 percent of Nepali workers are recruited ethically without any fees. Minister Yadav clarified that the government’s final goal is to reach a 100 percent “employer pay” model, where the employer covers all the costs. To achieve this, the government will stop unhealthy competition among manpower companies and encourage direct recruitment.
To address workers’ problems, the Department of Foreign Employment has launched an online platform named “ujury.dofe” for filing complaints.
Learning from International Practices
Minister Yadav admitted that Nepal cannot solve all migration problems alone. He said the government is ready to learn from good practices of countries like Philippines and work together with all stakeholders.
During the program, Helen Force, Chief of Mission for IOM, praised Nepal for showing strong leadership in making migration safe and organized under global agreements. She added that IOM will continue to support the Nepal government in this field.
Jerome Alcantara, Assistant Secretary of DMW, shared details from a 2020 survey. He said Filipino workers paid an average fee equal to 1.2 months of their salary to recruitment agencies. He explained that under Philippine law, fair recruitment means a legal, fair, and transparent process that respects the dignity and human rights of workers.
AI Disclaimer: This article was originally published on https://bajarkochirfar.com. It has been translated with the help of AI. For the best understanding and accurate facts, we recommend reading the original Nepali version.
