Department of Labour to issue work permit to foreigners
The Department of Labour (DoL) has been mulling a concept to introduce work permits for foreign workers after two years of a failed attempt to identify the status of foreign workers in the country.
It is planning to collect data of foreign workers to enforce the work permit provision, said director general at the department Krishna Hari Pushkar Karna.
The department had tried to enforce the work permit provision on foreign nationals working in the country two years back but had failed to do so as donor/international development agencies and multinationals did not support the drive. About 40,000-50,000 foreign nationals are believed to be working in the country but only one-fifth have taken work permits.
“We want to bring all foreign nationals under the Nepali labour law net, so we are starting the drive,” said Karna, adding that a nationwide campaign will be launched soon to record foreign workers.
The department will carry out two programmes — identification of foreign workers and registering them at the department — in the current fiscal year.
“First, we will ask foreign workers to come for voluntary registration. If they refuse to register themselves, the department will take action against them,” he said. According to him, the Labour Act 1992 has made it mandatory for a foreign worker to get a work permit to work in Nepal.
Clause 2 (B) of the Labour Act has clearly mentioned that foreign nationals can be employed in Nepali industries, businesses and service sector only after getting permission from the department. An employer can hire foreign workers only if there are no qualified Nepalis for the specific job.
The department believes that at least 40,000 foreign nationals have been working in schools and colleges, international/national non-governmental organisations and industries. However, only a handful — around 6,000 — have taken job permits, he said.
This time, the department will complete the drive. “All foreign workers must be registered at the department and take work permits,” Karna said, adding that those violating the labour law will be punished. “Strong action will be taken against those who violate this provision,” said Karna.
Published on: 18 April 2013 | The Himalayan Times
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