Manpower export to MalaysiaNAFEA call for lifting conditions on recruiting agency

The Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA) has paid serious attention to the letter sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia to the Government of Nepal through the Embassy of Nepal on October 27, 2025, along with 10 points of understanding related to this issue.

According to the letter, Malaysia has granted permission to a limited number of agencies to carry out recruitment-related work in Malaysia. The Malaysian government’s decision to allow only specific agencies to operate is against the principles of fairness, free competition, transparency, and equality.

This is a matter of concern for Nepalese recruiting agencies, as it restricts their right to operate freely, affects healthy competition, and contradicts international norms and standards.

Furthermore, such discriminatory and monopolistic practices will not only harm Nepalese agencies but also impose additional financial burdens on Nepali workers. It will weaken the authority of Nepalese recruiting agencies and the overall foreign employment policy of the Government of Nepal.

NAFEA strongly objects to this type of syndicate system and urges all agencies to unite against such actions. The association appeals to the Government of Nepal not to recognize or approve any proposal submitted by any individual, agency, or organization in the name, form, or structure of a syndicate. Any decision or action in favor of syndicates must be withdrawn immediately.

Foreign employment is a sector that involves the collective interests of both employers and workers. Therefore, restricting the operation of licensed agencies through syndicate arrangements is an attack on fair competition and workers' rights. Such practices could lead to corruption, exploitation, and a decline in ethical recruitment practices.

The association calls upon the concerned authorities of the Government of Nepal — especially the Ministry of Labour, Employment, and Social Security, the Department of Foreign Employment, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — to take strong diplomatic and administrative action against any syndicate system or similar unfair practices.

NAFEA firmly believes in the principles of fairness, transparency, self-regulation, and the protection of workers’ rights. The association emphasizes that maintaining these values is essential for the sustainable development of Nepal’s foreign employment sector.

If the Government of Nepal, following NAFEA’s recommendation and coordination, acts in the national interest and pressures the Malaysian government to ensure equal opportunities for all Nepalese agencies, it will strengthen bilateral relations and protect the rights and welfare of Nepali migrant workers.

NAFEA earnestly requests all stakeholders to remain united, alert, and committed to fair business practices and to reject any form of syndicate system that harms the dignity of Nepal’s foreign employment sector.