IT has already been two years since the signing of the bilateral agreement with Japan to supply technical interns to the country under the Japan International Training Cooperation Organisation (JITCO) programme, but the plan has failed to yield desired results due to low demand from Japanese firms and Nepali agencies’ inability to send trainees.

After the agreement in 2009, around two dozen Nepali agencies had bagged demand for 1,277 interns in various sectors. But only 129 have so far acquired final approval to leave the country, according to Kashi Raj Dahal, director of the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE). Dahal said Nepali agencies failed to cash in on the opportunity due to lack of proper marketing in Japan. Also, those who have sent interns to Japan are not satisfied due to issues related to service fee to be charged from the aspirants and lack of government’s support for promotional visits.

According to the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA), Japanese firms are not aware that they can hire trainee workers from Nepal due to lack of proper marketing. Moreover, Japanese agencies that work as mediator demand commission as high as Rs 300,000 per trainee, but Nepali agencies are not allowed to collect over Rs 50,000. “The JITCO programme has been a failure as most of the chosen agencies are reluctant to send interns with promotion or service fee of only Rs 50,000,” said Kumud Khanal, general secretary at NAFEA. He said although it has been mentioned in the agreement that Japanese firms that hire workers will bear air fares, many are not ready to comply with it. Khanal had sent five trainees out of the total demand of 26 individuals through his company— Fusion International—last year.

“Two female interns have returned back saying that they were not paid for overtime and facility provided was not satisfactory,” said Khanal. Due to the ineffectiveness of the programme, Nepali agencies are doubtful whether to renew their enlistment. Nepali agencies should renew their enlistment certificate within January every year, according to the Directive for Sending Technical Interns in Japan. If failed to do so, they will automatically be removed from the list. DoFE has authorised 117 Nepali agencies, including the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), to send trainees to Japan. Their eligibility is expiring by December 31. With the renewal date nearing, agencies are confused whether to enlist their company for the next year.