“We have raised minimum wage to encourage workers to join jobs in Saudi Arabia,” said Nepali ambassador to Saudi Arabia Udaya Raj Pandey. According to new increment, Nepali migrant workers joining Saudi jobs will get at least Rs 17,000. They get additional SR 200 (Rs 4,300) for boarding. Earlier, minimum wage was Rs 12,913. About 400,000 Nepalis working in the destination will get benefit from the decision, Pandey said, adding that the embassy is planning to further increase the salary to SR 1000 (Rs 21,500).

 

“No workers demand below SR 800 will get approval for Saudi Arabia,” said director at Department of Foreign Employment Kashi Raj Dahal. According to him, the department has started to issue Saudi job permit according to the new salary.

 

Outsourcers have welcomed the decision saying it will help them to find good workers for the destination. “Saudi had lowest salary among major destinations, so finding right workers has become a difficult task,” president of Foreign Employment Agency Association Prem Katuwal, said advising the government to raise salary of Nepali workers in other destinations too. “We have to hike our salary and train the workers as well,” he said, adding that trained manpower do not have market shortage in Gulf. 

 

Malaysia — the second most preferred destination after Qatar — is in process to hike migrant workers salary from next year. The destination is increasing salary to Malaysian Ringgit 950 (Rs 24,346) from 546 (Rs 13,993). About 500,000 Nepalis are believed to be working in the destination.

 

KATHMANDU: Employment Permit System (EPS) – recruiting workers for South Korea – has prepared roster of 15,898 workers who passed Test of Proficiency in Korean in August. According to EPS Nepal, it has prepared roster of 13,298 EPS job aspirants for manufacturing and 2,600 for agriculture. Likewise, department has also taken skill test of promising 2,384 job aspirants and selected 642 people.