August 18, 2014, 5:25 pm 
The government is planning to send Nepali migrant workers to Malaysia as domestic help.
It will be discussed – apart from labour agreement – during the visit of Malaysian human resources minister Datuk Richard Anak Jaem, said state minister for Labour and Employment Tek Bahadur Gurung.
With a nine-member team, Jaem is arriving in Kathmandu on Wednesday on a two-day official visit. The Ministry of Labour and Employment is also taking the overall issue of Nepali migrants seriously, he said, adding that Malaysia is interested to hire Nepali domestic workers.
Though, Malaysia is receiving largest number of Nepali migrant workers, both governments have been unable to reach an understanding to sign the memorandum of understanding to protect rights of workers.
Likewise, the government will also request the Malaysian minister to legalise Nepalis overstaying their visa, and facilitate safe return and rescue of 400 plus workers who are in jail there for various reasons,” Gurung added. “The government will also request Jaem for repatriation of those Nepali workers who are staying there illegally and wish to return home.”
There are around 700,000 to 800,000 Nepali migrant workers in Malaysia currently, and out of the total some 40,000 are illegal, according to the Department of Foreign Employment.
Malaysia has employed 213,575 Nepali migrant workers, including 6,176 female in the last fiscal year 2013-14.
Likewise, the government will also discuss the visa fee provision that has been a financial burden for nepali job aspirants. “We will request Malaysia to make free visas for Nepali migrant workers and help connect Nepali manpower agencies directly to employers of Malaysia,” he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysia has decided to hire Bangladeshi migrant workers in manufacturing, construction and service sectors. Though, Malaysia had banned employing Bangladeshi workers in all sectors except in the government-to-government agreed plantation sector, the new move is going to hit intake of Nepali migrant workers. Jaem – during his visit to Dhaka on Monday – had announced that the Malaysian cabinet has agreed to hire Bangladeshi workers in manufacturing, construction and service sectors.
Jaem is flying to Kathmandu from Bangladesh.
