The team comprising Binod KC, joint secretary at the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MoLE) , Purna Chandra Bhattarai, Director General of Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) and representative from recruiting agencies, among others had visited different places in Malaysia between July 19-25 to observe of the condition of Nepali migrant workers. 

 

During the visit the delegation had consultations with officials of Malaysia´s Human Resource Department, Nepali embassy and local Nepalis.

 

A 24-page report which the team submitted to MoLE on Tuesday, states that a number of workers were facing lack of uniformity in remuneration and working hours even for the same job.

 

“We found many cases in which remuneration being offered by employers was highly unequal and not compatible with the salary fixed by our government,” one of the members of the delegation told Republica.

Nepal government has made it mandatory for recruiting agencies to ensure minimum salary of 540 Ringgit per month for unskilled workers. However, Malaysian government has not fixed the minimum salary for foreign workers.

 

The report has also raised concern over the rising cost to get Malaysian jobs due to exorbitant commission levied by manpower agencies and suggested the government take measures to reduce the cost by eliminating different layers of brokers between employers and jobseekers.

 

Though the government has fixed a maximum of Rs 80,000 to be levied from a worker for Malaysian job, recruiting agencies are collecting up to Rs 300,000 due to excessive commission by Nepali manpower agencies to the Malaysian agencies and their brokers.

 

The delegation has also recommended that the government fix the commission amount to be collected by Nepali and from job aspirants so as to bring down the cost.

 

“Malaysia-based Nepali embassy should also swiftly act on the complaints received from afflicted workers who are forced to pay exorbitant fee to get Malaysian job,” read the report.

 

The team has also suggested the government immediately speed up the process to sign labor pact with Malaysia, which is home to more than 673,000 Nepali migrants. 

 

Given the high dominance of unskilled workers, the report also stressed on the need to explore employment opportunities for skilled or semi-skilled workers, especially in service sectors such as hospitality management. 

 

The report also suggested that Malaysian agency directly contract with Nepali agencies so that chances of cheating Nepali job seekers and recruitment commission would be minimized with the elimination of unnecessary middlemen during recruitment process.

 

The delegation has also recommended that government formalize the recruitment of Nepali workers as domestic helps in Malaysia by formulating guidelines that specifies minimum salary, work standard and safety measures in workplaces. 

 

Nepal has already formulated guidelines for the recruitment of domestic helps in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE. 

 

“We have suggested a provision in upcoming labor pact to introduce recruitment of Nepali domestic helps in Malaysia ensuring their rights,” said the report.