National
Govt lifts ban on foreign employment in Afghanistan
The government has lifted the restriction on Nepali workers from working in Afghanistan. The erstwhile KP Oli government had imposed the ban on Nepali migrants from going to Afghanistan as work destination following a deadly blast in a bus in Kabul on June 20 in which 13 Nepali workers lost their lives.The government has lifted the restriction on Nepali workers from working in Afghanistan. The erstwhile KP Oli government had imposed the ban on Nepali migrants from going to Afghanistan as work destination following a deadly blast in a bus in Kabul on June 20 in which 13 Nepali workers lost their lives.
According to Department of Foreign Employment Director General Shatrughan Prasad Pudasaini, the Cabinet took the decision to this effect before Dashain.
"Many people suggested that the ban should be lifted as there is no more threat as expected," said Pudasaini, "The government lifted the ban as suggestion came from several quarters that the deadly incident was a result of circumstances." Nepal-based US Embassy and Canadian Embassy also suggested the government to lift the ban, he said.
However, the restriction has been lifted only to work at the Green Zones in Afghanistan. According to Pudasaini, the government decision comes with a condition that the company should ensure that workers' residence should be located at duty premises or if the residence is outside the work place, there should be strong security measures to transport the workers to and fro. "The hiring company should have assured of these conditions when the department grants work permit," said Pudasaini.
The government had formed a committee on June 23 under then Labour Secretary Bishnu Lamsal to study and prepare a report on whether or not to allow Nepali workers to go to Afghanistan for employment. The committee report suggested sending Nepalis as migrant workers to Afghanistan only after assurances of workers safety and provision of residence at work premises by the hiring companies.
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