Parliamentary panel asks govt not to enforce bio-metric medical test
KATHMANDU, Jan 29:
Amid controversies regarding introduction of bio-metric medical test for Nepali workers by the Malaysian government, a parliamentary panel has directed the government not to implement such test for the time being.
The meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on International Relations and Labor held on Wednesday directed the government to not enforce the bio-metric test without studying its impact in Nepal and to the aspirant workers.
The bio-metric system is a health checkup system which involves the use of a fingerprint scanner and video camera.
The Malaysian side, however, has already told the government that it will process documents of only the workers who have undergone bio-metric health test.
Rajan Bhattarai, a member of the committee, told Republica that the committee has instructed the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MoLE) not to implement the controversial health test system without studying its impact in Nepal.
“Though Malaysia has clearly said that workers will not have to bear any additional cost, it seems that the assurance has come only to soothe the government´s worries about extra financial burden on workers. Similarly, the Malaysian side has not completely ruled out such possibility in the days to come,” said Bhattarai.
In a written response to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Jan 15, the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu had said that no new/additional charges will be imposed by the medical centers ´until further notice and to be determined by the respective authorities´.
Speaking at the meeting, lawmakers also questioned the credibility of Malaysian firm --Bestinet Sdn Bhd which has been assigned the task of processing bio-metric test and the application of visa with reference (VDR) for foreign workers through its Foreign Workers Centralized Management System (FWCMS).
The Malaysian government´s decision to award the contract of FWCMS has also land in controversy in Malaysia, according to Malaysian news portal. According to themalaysianinsider.com, Parti Keadilan Rakyat lawmakers, including Semambu assemblyman Lee Chean Chung, have raised concerns over the monopoly of the system, saying that the information stored was related to border control and immigration which was sensitive and could threaten the security and sovereignty of the country. Bestinet Sdn Bhd has come under scrutiny in Malaysia after it was awarded the contract.
“There were also concerns related to Bestinet and its credibility which will process the sensitive data, pictures and other documents of the workers. So the meeting decided to ask the government not to go ahead just because Malaysia wants to implement it," Bhattarai said. “The way Malaysia has listed 38 medical firms to conduct health tests of workers through this new system is also opaque and highly objectionable.”
Following the committee´s instructions, MoLE has said that it will begin study about the new system and submit report of the broader impact of such system in Nepal to the committee soon.
MoLE Secretary Bhola Shiwakoti told Republica that they will again write to the Malaysian government to clarify the issues in line with the parliamentary committee´s concerns. “Committee members were also concerned why Malaysia was asking only Nepal to implement the system with other countries already rejecting such system. We will study and take decision on the issue soon,” he added.
The committee´s decision is expected to affect Malaysia-bound workers as Malaysia has already clarified it will not process documents that do not come through the new system.
Malaysia is one of the popular destinations for Nepali youth. A total of 100,626 Nepalis left for Malaysia in the first five months of the current fiscal year 2014/15, according to Department of Foreign Employment.
Source: Republica
