In a bid to crack down on “illegal settings” at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) rampant in the foreign employment sector, a rapid response team caught four persons travelling to Dubai on a ‘visit visa’ on suspicion of illegally going abroad for work.

A meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Friday formed the rapid response team that is led by Joint Home Secretary Shanker Prasad Koirala. The team has been asked take prompt action against the practice of illegally sending people abroad for work. Complaints lodged with various government agencies reveal that an ‘unholy nexus’ exists between government officials at the TIA and manpower agents. They use temporary visas to send people to various countries for work. Once in foreign lands, these people get stranded and the government is compelled to rescue them by paying millions of rupees.
The members of the rapid response team include personnel from the Nepal Police, the Immigration Department and the Department of Foreign Employment.

Talking about Friday’s arrests, the Director General of Immigration, Suresh Adhikari, said, “We are investigating the matter. One was found holding a visit visa. That person later confessed that he was going to Dubai for employment.”

Adhikari said the four persons were stopped as, according to him, chances are high that such people are stranded once they land in foreign lands. “Those held (on Friday) for investigation did not have money with them,” he said.

Director General at the Department of Foreign Employment Purna Chandra Bhattarai, who is also a member of the team, said government employees having a hand in the fraudulent practice will also not be spared.
Friday’s meeting also formed another high-level panel led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha to look into policy matters and recommend to the rapid response team action to be taken against wrongdoers.

Published on: 25 August 2012 | The Kathmandu Post