February 3: The Government of Nepal has reached an understanding to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Malaysia to revise the bilateral labor agreement.

The two sides reached an agreement to this effect during the visit of a delegation led by Home Minister of Malaysia, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. The visiting delegation met Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Friday.

According to the PM Dahal’s Secretariat, the authorities concerned of both countries would work on mutual cooperation for the same. 

During the meeting, discussions were held on the issues related to carrying out activities jointly in the sector of trade, investment, tourist, and economic development by increasing high-level political and administrative visit and dialogue between the two countries.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Dahal stressed that the concerns of welfare and security of Nepali workers in Malaysia should be addressed. “I on behalf of the government want to thank the Malaysian government for the environment provided to the Nepali workers. We are confident that the Malaysian government will ensure Nepali worker’s welfare and security by making legal and institutional reform to address the problems, if any, in this regard. We are ready to collaborate with the Malaysian government for it,” the PM said.

 Prime Minister Dahal thanked the government of Malaysia for increasing the minimum wage of workers to 1,500 Ringgit from 1,200. Expressing commitment to strictly implement free visa, free ticket system, he opined that the employment sector could be made more systematic if the provision was implemented.   

Urging the Malaysian government to increase the number of Nepali workers in Malaysia in future, he laid emphasis on the need of the Malaysian government’s support on the issue of making the labor sector open, transparent, accountable, effective and systematic for Nepali workers in Malaysia. 

Similarly, the Malaysian Home Minister said that the Malaysian government was serious on the issue of welfare and security of Nepali workers and bringing in foreign workers in Malaysia. 

Stating that there is a need for workers in five economic sectors in Malaysia, he expressed commitment to make policy-level reforms for the welfare of the workers. -- RSS