Manpower Agencies Shut Down Nationwide as Dispute with Government Remains Unresolved

The Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA) has halted the operations of manpower companies across the country from today, Bhadra 01, after negotiations with the government failed to resolve a growing dispute within the stipulated deadline set by the association.

Following the failure to reach an agreement, manpower operators have locked their offices and suspended all foreign employment-related services nationwide. The association had issued an ultimatum to the government, seeking action on several issues affecting foreign employment agencies.

With the shutdown coming into effect, manpower agencies have stopped processing workers for overseas employment. The association said only workers whose labour approval and flight procedures had been completed by midnight on Shrawan 31 were allowed to depart.

From today, all previously scheduled departures and worker flights have been suspended until further notice.

The shutdown has also affected a wide range of administrative and recruitment activities. These include the publication of new job advertisements, worker interviews, processing of preliminary and final labour approvals, visa stamping and other procedures involving the Department of Foreign Employment.

The dispute intensified after the Department of Foreign Employment initiated action against hundreds of manpower companies in the second week of Shrawan, citing issues including the use of Indian airports to send Nepali workers abroad.

Foreign employment entrepreneurs have argued that alternative flight routes were used under exceptional circumstances and with the government's verbal understanding. They have therefore demanded that the action taken against the agencies be withdrawn.

The entrepreneurs have also called for the report on the revision of foreign employment service charges to be made public and for necessary policy reforms to address the challenges faced by manpower agencies.

Representatives of manpower agencies held initial discussions with the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security in an attempt to resolve the dispute. However, the talks failed to produce a concrete agreement, according to the association.

The association has also expressed dissatisfaction that negotiations have not progressed to the ministerial level. It has warned that the shutdown will continue until its demands are addressed.

The nationwide closure has created uncertainty for thousands of Nepali workers preparing to travel abroad for employment. Workers who have already completed recruitment procedures but have not yet departed are particularly affected by the suspension of flights and related services.

The disruption could also affect recruitment schedules, visa processing and employment arrangements for Nepali workers headed to various foreign labour destinations.

The foreign employment sector is now awaiting further negotiations between the government and manpower agencies to determine when services will resume and whether a settlement can be reached over the agencies' demands.