The Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies has called off its protest programmes following talks with the Ministry of Youth, Labour and Employment.

The association agreed to end all forms of pressure and protest after reaching an understanding with the ministry, according to a press statement issued by the ministry on Friday.

The talks, attended by the labour minister, the ministry secretary and office-bearers of the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies, focused on the association’s 15-point list of demands.

The association had been protesting since August 7, raising various demands regarding the operations of foreign employment businesses. It had also warned that it would stop sending Nepali workers to destination countries from August 23 if its demands were not addressed.

The ministry said most of the issues raised by the recruitment agencies were policy matters requiring amendments to the Foreign Employment Act, 2007 and its regulations. It pledged to make maximum efforts to complete the amendment process as soon as possible, with the stated aim of making the foreign employment sector more transparent, safe and dignified.

The ministry and the association also discussed administrative measures for resolving problems faced by recruitment agencies. According to the ministry, agencies can submit additional evidence and documents to the Department of Foreign Employment in accordance with the law. The department can provide necessary administrative facilitation, while unresolved cases can be appealed to the ministry.

Following the discussions and the ministry’s commitments, the association agreed to end all its protest programmes from Friday, the statement said.

The agreement has, for now, averted disruptions for Nepalis preparing to leave the country for foreign employment. The association’s threat to halt worker departures had raised concerns across the foreign employment sector and created uncertainty for workers awaiting deployment.

The association had launched the protests seeking the resolution of policy and administrative difficulties affecting the operation of foreign employment businesses. Its warning to suspend the process of sending workers abroad had raised the prospect of further delays for thousands of Nepalis preparing to take up jobs overseas.