Saudi Arabia has introduced a mandatory skills certification requirement for Nepali workers seeking employment in the kingdom. Labour officials and recruitment agencies say the move was implemented without prior consultation with the Nepal government and will place an additional financial burden on migrant workers.

Under the new rule, which takes effect on Wednesday, workers travelling to Saudi Arabia on labour visas must pass a skills assessment test before becoming eligible to work. Those who fail the test will not be allowed to take up employment in the country.

Saudi Arabia remains one of the largest destinations for Nepali migrant workers. The new requirement affects workers in occupations such as loading and unloading goods, portering, trolley operation and parts of the construction sector. Saudi authorities have not specified all construction-related occupations covered by the measure.

The certification process carries a fee of $100, equivalent to around Rs15,000. Half of the amount is charged as an examination fee, while the remaining $50 is collected under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme.

A senior official at Nepal’s Ministry of Youth, Labour and Employment said there had been no formal bilateral discussion or agreement on introducing the certification scheme.

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 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.

The Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies on Tuesday drew the attention of Minister for Youth, Labour and Employment Ramjee Yadav to the issue. Association president Dik Bahadur (Kumar) Khatri said the additional requirement would increase migration costs and create further hurdles for workers.

“If implemented, Nepali workers travelling to Saudi Arabia will have to bear additional expenses. The certification process will take extra time and create unnecessary complications in recruitment,” said Khatri. “There is a risk that workers’ interests will be adversely affected because the overall cost of foreign employment will rise.”

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 had previously attempted to require educational certificates from unskilled migrant workers, but the rule was later withdrawn following widespread criticism.