Foreign employment recruiting agencies obtained 1,214 work approval on Thursday, a day after the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (Nafea) decided to allow its members to carry out urgent works.  

On March 6, Nafea had suspended the operation of recruiting agencies to “protest against” raids carried out by Nepal Police.

Nafea on Wednesday decided to allow agencies who obtained visas before March 31 to allow “final work approval” from the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE).

It is mandatory to acquire “final work approval” or “work permit” from the government after obtaining visa in order to send workers abroad.

Nafea officials said they decided “to partially lift the restriction” keeping in mind the expiring visas and progress made negotiations with the government.

Rohan Gurung, general secretary of Nafea, said that the restriction will remain on the other agencies with less urgent works.

Nafea, which has long been pressing the authorities to scrap the free-visa-free-ticket scheme, has highlighted increase in the service charge as the main demand.

“Agencies should be allowed to take at least one month salary of the workers in service charge. That will be more scientific and in line to international trend,” said Bal Bahadur Tamang, former Nafea chairman.