Malaysia's new conditions leave Nepal's worker-dispatch process in limbo

The process of sending new workers to Malaysia has been thrown into uncertainty after Malaysia refused to accept Nepal's demand that all licensed Nepali manpower companies be allowed to send workers.

Malaysia has maintained its position that, starting November 5, it will recruit Nepali workers only through 25 main and 250 affiliated manpower companies. The arrangement is being implemented under Malaysia's centralized foreign worker management system.

The Nepal government has been expressing disagreement with the decision to involve only a limited number of companies in the recruitment process. With Nepal's demand for equal opportunity for all companies not being accepted, the recruitment dispute between the two countries has become more complicated.

As Malaysia is a major destination for Nepali workers, the employment of thousands of Nepalis has been left uncertain. The Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies is protesting, saying the new arrangement would concentrate the recruitment process under the control of a few companies and raise costs.