The Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (Nafea) on Monday issued a strongly-worded statement, asking the recruiting agencies to completely shut down the foreign employment service. The Nafea statement came a day after it was revealed that most of the recruiting agencies were secretly acquiring work permits, defying its call for indefinite general strike.  

“Nafea request the operators of recruiting agencies and their representatives not to go to the labour village in Tahachal till further notice,” the umbrella organisation of the recruiting agencies said in the statement, warning of strong action against those who do not abide by the Nafea had announced last week to shut down the foreign employment service, demanding an immediate end to police raids on the recruiting agencies. Recruitment agencies have also sought increment in the service charge.

 Nafea representatives have been pressing the Ministry of Labour and Employment to address their demands, with a warning of complete shutdown of foreign employment services. But the Department of Foreign Employment record suggests that the recruiting agencies have acquired 2,804 work permits since Nafea went into strike on March 5.