The Ministry of Labor has begun reviewing the ‘Free Visa, Free Ticket’ policy introduced ten years ago for workers heading to Gulf countries and Malaysia. Joint Secretary Pitamber Ghimire said the review will assess the policy’s impact on both migrant workers and recruitment agencies. Recruitment entrepreneurs, led by Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies president Bhuvan Gurung, argue the policy is impractical, raises operational costs, limits tax collection, and compromises worker safety. They have called for reforms aligned with international standards and current labor market realities.
