Malaysia and Nepal agreed to resume the stalled process of labor supply from Nepal to Malaysia on Thursday (12/09/2019).
Authorities from the two governments signed a 10-point deal to this effect after the conclusion of a two-day meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) held in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital.
Malaysia was one of the preferred labor destinations for Nepali workers until Nepal Government imposed a ban on its citizens going to Malaysia for jobs fifteen months ago.
The government imposed the ban after its findings that Malaysia-bound workers were forced to pay additional money illegally for a private Malaysian company established in Kathmandu.
According to joint-secretary at Ministry for Labour, Employment and Social Security Ram Prasad Ghimire, who led the Nepali delegation to Malaysia, told Republica Online that the Malaysian government is now ready to address the issue of medical test, which was one of the contesting issues between the two sides.
“We have agreed to resume medical tests through existing 36 health institutions of 122 listed institutions, remaining 86 will be soon approved,” Ghimire said.
Ghimire also informed that the labor pact signed between the two countries last year would be soon implemented.
Based on ToR, Department of Foreign Employment and Nepali Embassy in Malaysia will expedite verification of workers’ demand and labor permit.
Meanwhile, PM KP Oli’s Foreign Relations Advisor Rajan Bhattarai expressed happiness over the latest deal reached between Nepal and Malaysia. “Its a matter of happiness for us that the stalled process of labor supply to Malaysia is going to resume from coming Sunday,” he tweeted.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Nepali foreign worker supply signed between Nepal and Malaysia entered into force from Thursday, 12/09/2019.
The MoU covered the following:
Free Visa & Air Ticket
The employers themselves will bear the service tax, cost of two way air ticket, visa surcharge and the cost of medical check-up, security check etc.
Compassionate Leave
The MoU also includes the provision which allows the Nepali workers employed in Malaysia to return home country for a maximum period of 15 days in case of death of his/her close family member (father, mother, husbend or wife, son or daughter)
Accident and Health Insurance
Provisions applicable as per Malaysia’s laws in the case of workers at their workplace would be applicable in the case of Nepali workers as well.
Inform Napali Embassy in case of Causality
A provision has been made requiring the employer to inform the Nepali Embassy in case of injury, mutilation or death of the worker in course of foreign employment. It would be the responsibility of the employer concerned to repatriate the dead body of the worker to Nepal.
Malaysia’s Employment Act 1955
The MoU stated that the Government of Malaysia should provide the same level of protection to the Nepali workers as it provides the workers of other countries working in the same level, in accordance with the Labour Law of Malaysia.
Contract Duration
The new MoU has fixed the contract period of the workers for two (2) years, instead of three (3) earlier on.
Salary Payment Due Date
Provision has also been made for paying the remuneration of the workers within the 7th of every month through the worker’s bank account.
News source: Nagariknework.com
