The government of Saudi Arabia has declared a punishment of up to 15 years in prison and a fine of one million riyal for the companies and persons found guilty of smuggling visas. Saudi Arabia is one of the major destinations of Nepali migrant workers.

The Saudi government officially announced its new regulations after allocating one million visas to 10 manpower companies. "The visas will be granted to 10 manpower companies," The Saudi Ministry of Labour said. "They will supply the labours according to Labour and Migrant law of Saudi Arabia."

The Saudi Ministry has hiked the number of visas made available to the manpower companies by 30 percent but has not made public separate quota for the source country. "The workers will be brought from the host countries and be supplied according to the demand of the companies," said Nepal’s acting ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ananda Prasad Sharma.

Saudi officials are confident that the campaign will address the shortage of workers in the local markets. "The initiative will assist to curtail the lack of workers in Saudi," said Imad Al Dukheyar, Chairman of Saudi Council.