Nepal's '25 agencies' are feared to form syndicate, action is demandedResumption of Malaysia's foreign employment sector and warning against syndicate activities

Although the Malaysian employment market, which has been closed for about a year, has partially reopened, fear of 'syndicates' has increased among manpower professionals.

Foreign employment professionals have become alarmed after rumors began to spread that only '25 agencies' would be recognized.

The Progressive Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs Association (PFFEAN), an organization of foreign employment entrepreneurs close to the CPN-UML, has objected to the rumors being spread with the aim of imposing a 'syndicate' on Malaysian employment.

PFFEAN issued a press release stating that some individuals and groups are spreading false information claiming that only limited agencies have the authority to send jobs, implying that they have illegal access to Nepali and Malaysian agencies.

"Such syndicates are destroying transparency and fairness in the foreign employment process," the statement said.

A statement signed by the organization's president, Janak Rawal, states, "Providing employment opportunities through such groups for a large sum of money is extremely criminal and immoral." It has been clarified that such syndicate practices are completely prohibited according to the constitution and international labor laws.

PFFEAN has called on all foreign employment agencies in Nepal to refrain from such illegal practices and urged the relevant authorities to bring the culprits to justice. The statement said, “Agencies involved in such criminal activities should be dealt with strictly.”

PFFEAN has urged all parties to cooperate to make the employment process fair, impartial, and equally accessible to all, saying that there is an attempt to mislead Nepali agencies by spreading false information claiming administrative and political access.

Rajendra Bhandari, the then president of the Nepal Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs Association, said that the attempt to impose a 'syndicate' on employment in Malaysia, which is set to open after almost a year, is not right under any circumstances and that action should be taken against those who engage in such activities.

Malaysia is preferred by Nepali workers over Gulf countries as the minimum wage is more than Rs 53,000. Around 400,000 Nepalis are legally working in Malaysia.