Insufficient budget and human resource have affected the Department of Labour drive to curb illegal foreign workers in the country. The department has suspended the programme following financial and human resource constraints.

“We don’t have adequate budget and staffs to carry out illegal foreign workers monitoring,” said Man Bahadur BK, director general of the department. “We will revitalise the programme once we get adequate budget and staffs.” The department had planned to complete monitoring of illegal workers in December and start punishment drive from early 2012.

Over 50,000 foreign workers are estimated working in the country but just 6,000 are legal workers. Most of workers had entered into the country as tourist.

According to BK, the department has developed five committees in October to monitor foreign workers in international non-governmental organisations, multinational companies, hydropower companies, banks and financial institutions and others . However, the committees had not started their works due to budget and staffs.

Nepali labour laws restrict foreign national to work in the country without getting permission for the job. But the law has given exemption to hire foreign workers when the specific work forces are not available in Nepali market.

The department estimates large numbers of foreigners are working in INGOs, schools, colleges and industries.

However, they could not be traced till date. Minister for Labour and Transport Management Mohammed Istiyak Rai had initiated the drive against illegal foreign workers to explore job places for Nepali youths in July.

About 400,000 Nepalis enter in the job market every year but hardly 50,000 get jobs in the country. Due to lack of job opportunities, more than 350,000 Nepali youths are joining foreign jobs due to lack of opportunities in the country.

Published on: 9 December 2011 | The Himalayan Times