The Nepal government has said that it will accept Malaysia's letter regarding new standards set for manpower companies from countries that send workers only as a proposal and that the issue will be resolved through diplomatic dialogue. The decision was taken at a meeting held at Singha Durbar on Friday in the presence of Prime Minister Sushila Karki, including Finance Minister Rameshwor Khanal, Law Minister Anil Kumar Sinha, Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal and Labor Secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar, to take Malaysia's letter only as a proposal.

‘The 10-point criteria sent by Malaysia are only a proposal. This is not the final one,’ the note issued by the Prime Minister’s Office after the discussion said, ‘Therefore, we will ensure decent and safe employment in the best interests of both Nepali workers and businessmen through bilateral negotiations.’

Malaysia had sent a letter setting 10 criteria for manpower from five countries, including Nepal, to ‘select an appropriate number of manpower companies to practice decent labor migration between the two countries.’ Source countries have been given a deadline of Kartik 27 to recommend manpower companies according to the criteria. The 10 criteria state that ‘the manpower company must have been licensed to send workers for five years, must have sent at least 3,000 workers abroad in a period of five years, must have sent workers to at least three countries in five years, and must have obtained a license from the relevant body for training, assessment, recruitment, and labor deployment.

It is mentioned that the good conduct report should be received, the company should not be involved in forced labor, human trafficking, labor law violations, extortion, embezzlement, etc., the manpower company should have its own well-equipped training and assessment center, five employer companies should have given certificates about the good conduct of the concerned manpower company, there should be an office with an area of ​​at least 10,000 square feet for the labor recruitment process and other work, and the necessary documents should be provided as proof of compliance with the standards sought by the destination country, including Malaysia.

Former Secretary Purna Chandra Bhattarai, who is also an expert in labor administration, says that the best way to resolve this issue is diplomatic dialogue with Malaysia. ‘The Joint Technical Working Committee is the formal mechanism between the two countries to untie the knots tied and tied to labor issues. It has representatives from the Ministries of Labor, Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs and Law of the two countries,’ he said. ‘When difficult situations arise, the importance and activity of this committee increases. Now, meaningful activation of this mechanism seems necessary.’

Malaysia has also expressed its willingness to engage in dialogue with Nepal on the standards. ‘Nepal is an important source country for us. We gladly accept Nepal’s proposal. And, we are ready to discuss,’ an official from the Malaysian Foreign Ministry told Kantipur, ‘We are ready to clarify the issues that need to be resolved on the standards.’

Kul Bahadur Karki, former chairman of the Nepali Migrant Coordination Committee, emphasized that the Ministry of Labor should discuss with the main stakeholders (manpower, trade unions and civil society) before engaging in diplomatic dialogue with Malaysia and draw conclusions. ‘Which of the 10 standards that Malaysia claims to emphasize creative and dignified labor migration are in the interest of workers? Which points are such as to establish a monopoly as claimed by the manpower companies,’ he said, ‘This should be clearly 

separated.’

Malaysia has a workplace with social security. ‘It has a climate that is as pleasant as Nepal’s. There is no day without rain. Green forests are visible everywhere,’ said Binod Thapa, former president of the Non-Resident Nepali Association, Malaysia. ‘There is an open lifestyle. There are no restrictions on workers. Educational certificates and no specific language are required. People between the ages of 20 and 45 are considered eligible if they are ‘medically fit’.’

Malaysia’s standards cannot be accepted: Businessmen 

Nepal Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs Association, the umbrella organization of manpower entrepreneurs, and various brotherly organizations of manpower affiliated with political parties have expressed disagreement with the Malaysia’s standards. They allege that the standards are trying to give a monopoly to a particular company. 

Nepal Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs Association has decided to struggle, saying that Malaysia’s standards cannot be accepted. On Friday, the association’s meeting decided to form a negotiation committee under the chairmanship of President Bhuwan Gurung and a struggle committee under the leadership of the second vice-chairman. The Malaysian letter is of a nature to establish a syndicate in the source country and favor/encourage a few limited individuals, said the association's president, Gurung.