Saudi Arabia is going to conduct skill tests in general occupations unilaterally without coordinating with the Nepali government, putting a financial burden on workers. From tomorrow, Wednesday, workers who have not undergone skill tests will not be able to go to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is the main destination for Nepali workers. A fee of one hundred dollars (about 15 thousand rupees) has been set for this. Of which, $50 is for the examination fee and $50 for the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). The labor agreement between Nepal and Saudi Arabia was signed on Magh 11. A joint technical committee consisting of at least six members of officials from both countries has been formed to effectively implement the agreement. It will monitor and evaluate the implementation of the agreement. The agreement states that before taking a decision on any matter related to the recruitment of workers, a proposal should be submitted to the joint technical committee.

However, there has been no bilateral discussion between Nepal and Saudi Arabia on the issue of implementing the skill certification program. An official from the Ministry of Labor said that there has been no formal discussion or agreement on the issue of skill testing.

The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has issued a notice stating that a skill certification program has been launched to obtain a work visa in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia says that it is going to conduct skill certification to provide professional recognition. Skill testing should now be done for workers who load/unload goods, carry goods, drive carts and in the construction sector. It has not been disclosed what kind of work the workers will do in the construction sector.

The Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs Association has urged the Minister of Labor to take diplomatic initiatives with Saudi Arabia as soon as possible, keeping in mind the interests of the workers and the foreign employment process.

A notice has also been posted on the notice board of the Saudi Embassy in Kathmandu. Saudi Arabia has given responsibility to a specific training and testing center to certify these skills. The name of the training and testing center responsible for certifying skills in Nepal has not been made public.

According to the notice, workers will be given up to three chances for the skill test. If they fail in this, the workers will not be allowed to go to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has stated that this program has been implemented in all source countries. For the skill test, workers must first register online on Saudi Arabia's ' Professional Certification Portal '. Only after registration, the fee must be paid in dollars through Visa or Master Card. The applicant must select his profession from the professions available under the program. He will have to select an approved test center and select the available test date. The test will be 3 hours long. The results will be available within 24 hours to a week.

Saudi Arabia had earlier introduced a rule requiring unskilled workers to submit a certified educational certificate. However, it was removed after widespread opposition.

The Nepal Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs Association drew the attention of Youth, Employment and Social Security Minister Ramji Yadav on this issue on Tuesday. Labor Minister Yadav had held bilateral discussions on labor and immigration with Saudi Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Tariq bin Abdulaziz Al Hamad at the General Assembly of the International Labor Organization (ILO) held in Geneva last Thursday. Association President Dik Bahadur (Kumar) Khatri said that excessive financial burden on workers would not be accepted. 'If this system is implemented, now Nepali workers going to Saudi Arabia will have to pay additional fees.' The certification process will result in additional time and unnecessary hassle and financial burden in the employment process,' Khatri said. 'This is likely to increase the cost of workers going for foreign employment and adversely affect their welfare.' The association has urged the Labor Minister to take necessary diplomatic initiatives with the Saudi side as soon as possible, keeping in mind the welfare, convenience, and smooth foreign employment process of the workers. 'Looking at the practices of India and Bangladesh, it does not seem to be labor-friendly. They are charging more than the prescribed fee because they do not have time,' he said. 'This has only caused additional hassle for the workers.'