Process to amend Foreign Employment Act-2064 BS begins

Kathmandu, April 6: The Department of Foreign Employment has initiated the process to amend the existing Foreign Employment Act.

According to Meera Acharya, Director General of the Department, the proposed amendments to the 2007 Act have been submitted to the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security aiming to address ongoing challenges and improve management in the sector.

Director General Acharya shared that the Ministry will coordinate with the relevant stakeholders before presenting the amendment proposal to the cabinet for further discussion and approval. The amendment seeks to reduce fraud in foreign employment, ensure justice for victims and provide faster and more transparent services. 

Furthermore, the amendment proposal also includes provisions for immediate compensation, counseling services and the introduction of worker-friendly legal arrangements, Acharya explained.

The Department announced that services related to issuing labour permit will be delivered within one day, provided all legal procedures are completed. It has also warned that companies or group operating in foreign employment without proper licenses are subjected to legal action.

As of March 4 of the current fiscal year 2025/26, the Department has provided compensation amounting to over Rs 33.8 million to the families of foreign employment victims. 

The compensation was recovered from the offenders through the settlement of 308 complaints registered in the Department, informed Acharya, adding that the Department received altogether 3,672 cases and complaints so far this fiscal year.  

She added that the Department has begun publishing the names, addresses and claimed amounts of accused individuals in a recently launched dedicated website to curb fraud.

The website publicly discloses details of companies and individuals involved in fraudulent activities along with the records of registered cases in foreign employment sector.  (RSS)