With an aim to provide services to aspirant migrant workers at provincial level, the government has started extending services of labour offices outside the Kathmandu Valley.

The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security opened a labour office in Birendranagar, the headquarters of Karnali Province, on Wednesday, that is expected to relieve workers by providing services related to foreign employment, labour relations and disputes at their respective provincial headquarters.  

Earlier, this year the government had decided to open such offices in the headquarters of all seven provinces to offer workers respite from financial burden and hassle of travelling to the Kathmandu-based Foreign Employment Office to obtain labour permits.

According to Labour Minister Gokarna Bista, the new labour offices will serve thousands of workers by providing them varieties of services at their nearest place.

“This is the first labour office in Karnali Province. Besides, providing common services to public, it will soon start issuing pre-labour permits to migrant workers,” added Minister Bista. “We want to make sure that workers do not have to travel to the capital for minor works which can be easily available at their headquarters.  

Similar offices have already been set up in other six provinces. These offices are mandated to provide services under the working area of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security.

Likewise, the office will work for implementation of the recently introduced Social Security Schemes in respective provinces.

All the offices will have a foreign employment units which will issue pre-permits and later final labour permits to migrant workers, said Narayan Regmi, spokesperson at the ministry.

The office will also look into other matter of labour relations, workers’ safety, approval of demand letter, registration of grievances and facilitate between workers and employers.

“The office will facilitate workers on various matter. It can address to the complaints of workers and also take initiative when workers stranded abroad need to be rescued,” Regmi said.

According to officials, staff and budget for the operation of these offices have already been allocated.

 Meanwhile, the Foreign Employment Office in Tahachal is introducing token system for providing services to visitors in a hassle-free manner.

Yubaraj Khatiwada, the office chief, said the token system will be enforced from December 2 while issuing new labour permit, renewal of permit and document attestation.

With the token system, the office hopes to provide services to 900 workers every day.  

Based on the application received through the Foreign Employment Information Management System, visitors will be given a particular date and time for receiving the services at the office, which will minimise unwanted crowd, said Khatiwada.