Labor Ministry shows reservation on foreign employment criteria of Malaysian government

Kathmandu, Nov 4: The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security has informed that the 10-point criteria set by the Malaysian government for Foreign Employment Recruitment Companies of five countries, including Nepal, can in no way be accepted.

Spokesperson of the Ministry, Pitambar Ghimire, informed that the Ministry has officially written to convey this message to the Malaysian government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Nepal has informed its inability to enforce the 10-point criteria determined by Malaysia for the manpower companies in regard to foreign employment, the Ministry stated, adding that the formal communication was made to explore a solution through diplomatic measures.

“The manpower business companies have protested the criteria brought out by the Malaysian government”, spokesperson Ghimire said, adding that, “We submitted the letter through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informing our inability to accept the criteria as it is”. It may be noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia had informed the Kuala Lumpur-based Nepali Embassy about the 10-point criteria.

In accordance with this information, the Ministry of Human Resources of Malaysia has requested manpower companies to send details of the manpower companies within 15 November 2025. The Malaysian government had shared the criteria to Nepal along with India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar. Importantly, it is stated that no agency must have held a license for at least five years, have a track record of sending 3,000 workers during the past three years, and have sent workers to at least three countries in the last five years.

Also, they should have obtained all valid permissions related to training, evaluation, recruitment, and have received a certificate of good conducts issued by the authorized agencies of their countries. The manpower agencies should not be involved in any form of forced labour, human trafficking, violation of labour law or extortion related illegal actions.

The company shall be permanently run in an area of at least 10,000 sq feet with adequate structures, and must submit recommendation letters received from international employers. The foreign employment agencies have been expressing their reservations to these criteria.