KATHMANDU — The Nepal Democratic Association of Foreign Employment Agencies has called for the immediate withdrawal and suspension of a proposed Skills Verification Program (SVP) for Nepali citizens seeking employment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The association stated that the program would introduce unnecessary financial, administrative, and psychological burdens on migrant workers and foreign employment entrepreneurs.
According to the association, the proposed mechanism would require migrant workers to bear additional fees, testing requirements, and certification procedures, which would substantially increase the overall cost of foreign employment. The group emphasized that the majority of Nepali workers navigating this process come from economically disadvantaged and low-income backgrounds, making additional financial obligations unjustifiable.
The association stated that foreign employment remains a major pillar of Nepal's economy through the remittance earnings of millions of workers. It alleged that the implementation efforts are driven by "vested interest groups, syndicate-driven elements, and anti-business actors" attempting to complicate the foreign employment sector.
Furthermore, the group argued that the decision was imposed unilaterally, running contrary to democratic principles, transparency, and good governance. It maintained that decisions of this magnitude must only be implemented after adequate consultation and consensus-building with all relevant stakeholders.
The association strongly urged the Government of Nepal, the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, and the Department of Foreign Employment to immediately suspend the decision and conduct a comprehensive review. It also called upon the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA), along with other sector entrepreneurs and workers' organizations, to unite against the policy.
