Nepal and Saudi Arabia sign bilateral agreement on workers’ recruitment

January 26, Kathmandu: Nepal and Saudi Arabia on Sunday signed a bilateral agreement on the recruitment of Nepali workers, aiming to ensure ethical hiring practices and stronger protection for migrant workers in the Kingdom.

The agreement was signed at a formal ceremony in Riyadh by Nepal’s Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Rajendra Singh Bhandari, and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi.

According to officials, the agreement seeks to promote fair and transparent recruitment of Nepali workers for legal employment in Saudi Arabia, while safeguarding the rights and interests of both workers and employers. It is expected to strengthen labour governance and reduce irregular recruitment practices.

Both ministers expressed confidence that the agreement would enhance labour cooperation and further deepen bilateral relations between the two countries. The signing ceremony was followed by a bilateral meeting between the two sides.

Saudi Arabia is one of the major destinations for Nepali migrant workers, and the agreement is seen as a significant step towards improving worker safety, welfare and overall labour management in the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia is one of the main destinations for Nepali migrant workers. According to Nepal’s Ministry of Labour, around 400,000 Nepali workers are currently employed there, primarily in the construction and service sectors, and more than 1.35 million Nepalis have worked in the country over the past decade.

Minister Bhandari arrived in Riyadh earlier on Sunday and is also scheduled to participate in the Third Edition of the Global Labour Market Conference (GLMC), which will be held in the Saudi capital on 26–27 January 2026.