The Task Force under the High Level Monitoring Mechanism (HLMM) formed to curb wrongdoings in foreign employment sector today submitted its report to the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha.

Presenting the report, the Task Force Coordinator Shankar Koirala, a Joint Secretary of Ministry of Home Affairs, briefed Shrestha about the progress of the committee in curbing misconducts in foreign employment business since the HLMM and the Task Force’s formation on August 25.

Koirala, in today’s meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this afternoon, presented a litany of reform measures in providing service to those who go to foreign employment and the government’s move to reduce the wrongdoings.

Koirala briefed that his team inspected the Tribhuvan International Airport as many as 11 times to curb the so-called networks of foreign employment agents, airport security teams and immigration officials — infamously known as airport setting — in order to through migrant workers unlawfully.

In this connection, he further said, as many as 117 fake passports and two rackets were busted by officials deployed from the Central Intelligence Bureau, according to a statement issued by the MoFA.

Similarly, Koirala also apprised that the team has already installed CCTV in the TIA and Immigration Department to inspect and observe any wrongdoings in the name of foreign employment live.

The meeting also made conclusion that since the formation of the HLMM and its task force, the ratio misconducts in foreign employment business have been reduced.

Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office Dharanidhar Khatiwada, Home Secretary Nabin Ghimire, Labour Secretary Somlal Subedi and Officiating Foreign Secretary Arjun Bahadur Thapa were present at the review meeting.

Addressing the meeting, DPM Shrestha apprised that ground works are underway in order to open embassies and consulate generals in most needy countries, including Bahrain and Jeddah of Saudi Arabia.

He also said the Government of India has been urged to assist in stopping of those Nepalis who want to go for foreign employment through illegal channels and fly via India.

Published on: 9 October 2012 | The Himalayan Times