Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Gokarna Bista has stopped the regular attendance of the employees who had already been transferred elsewhere  but continue to attend the Foreign Employment Office (FEO) in Tahachal, Kathmandu. 

As per the directive order of Bista, 16 officials were prohibited from logging their daily attendance on Friday, said Bhuwan Prasad Acharya, the director general of Department of Foreign Employment. 

“The minister has given strict order to only allow attendance of those staff who were formally posted to the office,” said Acharya. 

The FEO has been overstaffed for a long time. Some employees, who were transferred to local levels, have refused to take up new jobs.

“Some of the employees have ignored the transfer order. They have used their political connection to continue their stay here,” an official at the FEO said.

The 16 employees, whose daily attendance was barred at the instruction of Minister Bista, are said to be visiting the office even though their salaries have long been stopped. 

It is said that these persona non grata employees are unwilling to leave because of bribery and corruption opportunities at the FEO.   

The foreign employment sector is infamous for irregularities. Many officials working in the sector have been found involved in bribery and fund misappropriation in the past. (PR)