The government has scrapped the Malaysian government’s unilateral policy that had put immense financial burden on Nepali migrant workers aspiring for a job in Malaysia.

Ministry for Labour, Employment and Social Security informed that the government has decided to scrap the Malaysian government’s policy that forced migrant workers to pay exorbitant fees for various procedures from its authorised agents—Malaysian companies and their sub-agents in Nepal— including MiGRAMS, health checkup syndicate, One Stop Centres (OSC), foreign landing visa (VLN) and GSG services.

A Nepali aspiring to work in Malaysia has to pay at least Rs 18,400 visa fee and other charges under different headings.

“We have decided to scrap the illegitimate provision that forces Nepali migrant workers to cough up tens of millions of rupees,” said Labour Minister Gokarna Bista during a press conference organised at the Labour Ministry on Thursday “The Foreign Ministry will take initiatives on this regard to ensure the Malaysian government’s cooperation.”

Minister Bista informed that the Home Ministry has been asked to immediately implement the Labour Ministry’s decision. “We have sent a letter to the Home Ministry to put an end to the illegitimate works being carried out by anyone,” said Minister Bista.

Minister Bista expressed his belief that the new government in Malaysia will cooperate in scrapping the unilateral policy set-up by the earlier government. “We believe that the new government under Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will scrap such illegitimate policies that are against the migrant workers,” Minister Bista said.

Former Malaysian PM Najib Razak had introduced the policy without informing the Nepal government.

Under the policy adopted by the erstwhile Razak government, a migrant worker, aspiring for a job in Malaysia, would be bound to pay up to Rs 18,480 under six different headings. As per the policy, online registration (MiGRAMS) would cost Rs 3,300, biometric health check-ups would cost Rs 4,500. Likewise, another Rs 3,100 had to be paid at OSC, RS 3,616 for VLN, Rs 3,200 for GSG service and Rs 700 was taken as visa fee by the embassy. The fees taken by manpower companies would be charged separately.