Foreign employment recruiters protested in Kathmandu on Wednesday against Saudi Arabia’s new mandatory skills certification requirement for Nepali workers, saying the rule was introduced without Nepal’s consent and would impose an additional financial burden on migrants seeking jobs in the Kingdom.

Protestors gathered outside a Saudi Arabia-backed skills certification centre in Basundhara and tore down a signboard bearing the words “Skills Certification Programme”.

As part of the implementation of the mandatory skills certification requirement, Saudi authorities had scheduled the inauguration of the centre and planned to begin skills assessments for workers in general occupations on Wednesday.

The protesters stated that the certification scheme violates the spirit of the labour agreement between Nepal and Saudi Arabia because it was introduced unilaterally, without coordination or cooperation with the Nepali government. They vowed not to allow the programme to operate in its current form.

Under the new system, workers will be required to pay an additional Rs15,000 for certification. The fee includes $50 for the skills examination and another $50 for the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme.

Saudi Arabia has said workers who fail to submit a certificate proving they have passed the skills test will not be issued visas.

At present, the certification requirement applies to five categories of workers, including those involved in loading and unloading goods, portering, handcart operation and construction-related work. However, the specific occupations covered under the construction category have not been clearly defined.

Hari Bahadur Pandey, chairperson of the Nepal Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs’ Unity Committee, accused those behind the programme of using skills testing as a means of extracting money from workers.

“This is a syndicate. We cannot accept it under any circumstances,” Pandey said.

The Ministry of Youth, Labour and Employment has not issued an official position on the programme. A ministry official said internal discussions on the matter were ongoing.

The dispute comes despite a labour agreement signed between Nepal and Saudi Arabia in January, which states that matters related to the recruitment process of Nepali workers should be determined through a joint technical committee. No bilateral agreement has been reached between the two countries regarding the implementation of the skills certification programme.

Representatives of the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies visited the Ministry of Labour on Wednesday to raise their concerns with Minister for Youth, Labour and Employment Ramjee Yadav. However, the minister did not meet the delegation.

Association president Dik Bahadur (Kumar) Khatri said imposing additional costs on workers was unacceptable.

“If this provision is implemented, Nepali workers travelling to Saudi Arabia will be forced to pay extra fees,” Khatri said. “The certification process is likely to require additional time and create unnecessary procedural complications and financial burdens during recruitment.”

He warned that the programme could increase the overall cost of foreign employment and adversely affect the interests of migrant workers seeking jobs in Saudi Arabia.

The new rule has drawn wide criticism from labour officials and recruitment agencies in Nepal.

The development has raised questions because Nepal and Saudi Arabia signed a labour agreement on January 25, aimed at strengthening protections for migrant workers and improving labour migration governance. The agreement established a joint technical committee comprising officials from both countries to monitor implementation and evaluate labour-related issues. Matters affecting worker recruitment were expected to be discussed through that mechanism before decisions were taken.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development had said in a public notice that the programme was designed to certify workers’ professional competencies and improve occupational standards. Notices regarding the scheme have also been displayed at the Saudi Embassy in Kathmandu.

Workers must first register through Saudi Arabia’s Professional Accreditation Portal before paying the fee electronically using a bank card. Applicants are required to select their occupation, choose an approved testing centre and book an examination date. The test lasts three hours, and results are expected within 24 hours to one week.

Applicants will be given up to three attempts to pass the examination, according to the notice. Those who fail after three attempts will become ineligible for employment in Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities say the programme is being implemented across all labour-source countries.

Following the development, the association on Tuesday drew the attention of Minister for Youth, Labour and Employment Ramjee Yadav to the issue.

The association also urged the labour minister to take up the matter diplomatically with Saudi authorities. Khatri said experiences from countries such as India and Bangladesh suggested that certification systems had not always remained worker-friendly. “Workers often face delays and end up paying more than the prescribed fees because of time pressures. Instead of making migration easier, the process can become another obstacle,” he said.

Saudi Arabia remains one of the largest destinations for Nepali migrant workers.

The Kingdom had previously attempted to require educational certificates from unskilled migrant workers, but the rule was later withdrawn following widespread criticism.