Nepal Democratic Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs Association Objects to Hike in Health Check-up Fees

The Nepal Democratic Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs Association has expressed its strong objection to the increase in health check-up fees for migrant workers going abroad for employment.

The Association, by issuing a press statement today, objected to the sudden and significant burden placed on workers going abroad for employment by the health fee hike, which is set to be implemented from November Mangsir 10.

The government has doubled the fee for UAE countries from Rs 4,500 to Rs 9,500, and for other countries, it has been raised from Rs 6,500 to Rs 9,500. 

According to the statement issued by Association Chairman Deepak Thapa, this fee increase heavily burdens poor and low-income workers seeking foreign employment.

Furthermore, Chairman Thapa mentioned that charging Rs 9,500 as the health check-up fee when the service charge for workers going to the Gulf and Malaysia is set at only Rs 10,000 is a matter of serious objection.

The Association states that Nepalis going to Malaysia and the Gulf countries for employment are usually in extremely poor financial conditions. 

The Association noted that approximately 1,500 youths go for employment to these countries daily, and this decision will add to the economic burden on poor workers.

It has been stated that increasing the fee for testing in Nepal is not appropriate, especially since the destination countries do not trust the health check-ups conducted in Nepal and instead mandate testing according to their own country's standards.

The Association considers the health check-up conducted in Nepal merely a formality to complete the legal process for labor approval. 

The Association has also urged the government to immediately withdraw the increase in health check-up fees, which imposes an economic burden on poor workers.