Kathmandu [Nepal], Sept 22 – Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah has called for joint action with Malaysia to address syndicates and intermediary practices in the foreign employment sector with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim agreeing to direct his labour minister to work with his Nepali counterpart on a concrete solution.
Shah raised the issue during a telephone conversation with Anwar on Tuesday, stressing the need to make foreign employment between Nepal and Malaysia more dignified, transparent and free from exploitation.
According to Shah’s Press and Research Expert Deepa Dahal, Shah said syndicates and intermediaries had adversely affected migrant workers and called for the issue to be resolved permanently.
“We despise syndicates and intermediaries and such practices are unacceptable under any circumstances. They have adversely affected workers,” Shah told Anwar, according to Dahal.
Shah urged the labour ministers of both countries to hold direct talks and take necessary steps to resolve the issue.
Anwar responded positively to Shah’s concerns and said he was also opposed to syndicates and intermediary practices in the foreign employment sector, according to Dahal.
“I am also completely against such wrongful and exploitative practices. I will immediately instruct our Labour Minister to discuss the matter with his Nepali counterpart and find a concrete solution,” Anwar told Shah.
The two prime ministers agreed on the need for both countries to work together to address the issue.
