KATHMANDU: The Department of Foreign Employment has launched an investigation into 25 recruitment agencies linked to the Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS) for Malaysia.
Acting on the instructions of Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Ramji Yadav, the department is reviewing the firms’ financial transactions, selection criteria, and their past involvement in Malaysian recruitment processes.
The department has also initiated a process to seek clarifications from 250 additional companies associated with these agencies. Director Binda Acharya stated that until the investigation is complete, these companies are barred from processing new pre-approval applications for Malaysia.
However, she clarified that the suspension will not affect workers who have already obtained their labour permits, and their departure process will continue as scheduled.
The Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies has long demanded the removal of the syndicate, arguing that the FWCMS system unfairly restricts opportunities. Association president Dik Bahadur Khatri welcomed the investigation, pledging to provide evidence of any malpractice by the firms involved.
The department has issued a stern warning to all licensed agencies to refrain from activities that limit fair competition or establish monopolies.
Director Acharya warned that failure to comply with these directives could result in the cancellation of their operating licenses. The government stated that it is engaged in ongoing administrative and diplomatic dialogues with Malaysia to ensure a transparent, competitive, and orderly labour migration process.
