The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security has decided to set up work permit offices in Itahari, Janakpur and Butwal in a bid to facilitate the youths aspiring for foreign employment.

“We have identified the places from where the highest numbers of people are going for foreign jobs. We will set up offices for issuing work permit in those places,” said newly appointed Minister for Labour and Employment Gokarna Bista at a press meet on Tuesday. “We have decided to set up offices in Itahari, Janakpur, and Butwal.”

He informed that the government has initiated the necessary works for its immediate implementation. “I have directed the concerned officials to make arrangement for providing services as per the existing legal provisions,” he said. “We will grant all kinds of work permits authorised by the law.”

Ministry officials said the work permits could be granted with immediate effect. “The migrant workers, who are here for holiday, don’t need to travel to Kathmandu just to get the work permit. We will instantly finalise the issues of both institutional and personal permits,” said Minister Bista.

At the press meet, the Labour, Employment and Social Security Minister vowed to end all kinds of syndicate existing in foreign employment sector in order to provide hassle-free services to aspirant migrant workers. He said foreign employment agents have formed a huge syndicate in the name of medical tests. He said the government has been holding in-depth discussions with concerned stakeholders for creating an environment for sending the workers at the lowest possible cost. “We will soon make a decision in this regard,” he said.

He said the government has been working in an organised manner to create skilled manpower and ensure secured employment

Earlier after his appointment as the minister, Bista had promised to accord top priority for addressing the problems faced by migrant workers while pursuing foreign jobs. He had directed the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) to identify prospective places outside Kathmandu Valley to set up offices for issuing work permits.