The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security has said it will strictly enforce the policy that allows manpower agencies to charge migrant workers no more than Rs10,000 as a service fee for foreign employment.

The ministry has urged prospective migrant workers to immediately inform authorities if anyone demands or collects a higher amount.

Labour Minister Dipak Kumar Sah issued a video message on Saturday, reminding that licensed foreign employment agencies are allowed to send workers abroad by charging only Rs10,000 as a service fee.

“If anyone has taken or demanded more than the specified amount, or if there are complaints related to this issue, all concerned are urged to immediately contact the ministry and report the matter,” he said.

The minister also asked the public to file complaints through the government hotline, Hello Sarkar (1111), or the Foreign Employment Call Centre (1141), if agencies charge more than the stipulated amount.

Authorities have also started questioning migrant workers at Tribhuvan International Airport about whether they were charged fees beyond the prescribed limit. The ministry said that manpower companies found to be overcharging workers will face investigation.

The Department of Foreign Employment has begun seeking details from manpower agencies accused of collecting excessive fees. In a letter sent on March 17 to one such company, the department said it had received complaints that workers had been sent to Malaysia without complying with existing foreign employment laws.

The department has asked the company to provide details of the number of workers sent, their contact information and the amount collected from them, along with proof of payment.

The policy allowing manpower agencies to charge only Rs10,000 as a service fee was introduced on June 9, 2015, when Tek Bahadur Gurung was the labour minister. The provision—popularly known as the “free visa, free ticket” policy—applies to Nepali workers heading to major labour destinations such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, United Arab Emirates and Malaysia.