Nepal’s foreign employment sector has once again come under public scrutiny after the Ministry of Labour conducted a raid at a manpower company in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, recovering hundreds of passports and a large amount of unreceipted cash. The action came exactly one month after Ramji Yadav was appointed Labour Minister, raising fresh debate over whether the government is moving fast enough to control fraud linked to foreign employment recruitment.
The raid was carried out after complaints reached the ministry alleging that workers planning to travel to Malaysia were being charged illegally by the manpower company. Authorities recovered 437 passports and Rs 790,000 in cash that reportedly had no official receipts. The incident has once again highlighted long-running concerns about manpower-related fraud in Nepal, where thousands of workers seek overseas employment every year.
Questions are now being raised about the effectiveness of government monitoring, response systems, and the overall handling of foreign employment complaints. While the ministry’s latest action has been welcomed by many, concerns remain over whether isolated raids alone can solve a problem that has affected workers for years.
Raid Conducted at Manpower Company in Lalitpur
The Ministry of Labour ordered a raid at Moon Manpower located in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, after receiving information about alleged irregularities involving foreign employment recruitment.
According to the Labour Minister’s secretariat, officials recovered 437 passports from the office during the operation. Authorities also seized Rs 790,000 in cash that reportedly did not have official receipts.
The raid was reportedly linked to complaints that the manpower company had been collecting large amounts of money from citizens despite rules stating that workers travelling to Malaysia should not be charged more than Rs 10,000 in additional costs.
The recovery of passports and cash has once again raised concerns about recruitment practices in Nepal’s manpower sector and the treatment faced by migrant workers before leaving the country.
Concerns Over Foreign Employment Fraud Continue
Foreign employment fraud has remained one of the most discussed public concerns in Nepal for many years. Workers seeking jobs abroad often rely on manpower companies and agents to process recruitment, visas, and travel arrangements.
However, complaints related to excessive fees, false promises, missing documents, and delayed departures continue to surface regularly.
The latest case involving Moon Manpower has again highlighted how vulnerable job seekers can become during the recruitment process.
Many citizens believe that although raids and investigations occasionally happen, stronger monitoring and faster action are still lacking.
The report also stated that hundreds of people continue to face problems through manpower agencies and recruitment agents every day.
Pressure Builds on Labour Minister Ramji Yadav
Ramji Yadav became Labour Ministeron April 10 after former Labour Minister Deepak Kumar Shah was removed from office. Since taking charge, Yadav has faced growing public expectations because of the ongoing problems in Nepal’s foreign employment sector.
The recent manpower raid is being seen as the first major visible action taken under his leadership.
While many welcomed the operation, criticism has also emerged regarding the pace of government action. Questions are being raised over whether one raid within a month is enough considering the scale of complaints related to manpower fraud across the country.
The report stated that the foreign employment sector contains deep-rooted irregularities and that many people had expected a more experienced leader to handle the ministry during such a critical period.
There is also increasing public discussion about whether the ministry leadership is capable of bringing immediate improvements to a system that affects thousands of migrant workers and their families.
Government Plans Digital Reforms
According to Minister Yadav’s secretariat, preparations are underway to make government services and complaint systems more digital.
Officials believe digital systems could help make complaint registration easier and improve communication between citizens and the Department of Foreign Employment.
However, concerns remain over whether these reforms are moving quickly enough to provide immediate relief to affected workers.
The report highlighted that despite ongoing discussions about digital transformation, many citizens still struggle to receive responses from authorities after reporting foreign employment fraud.
Complaints include unanswered phone calls, delayed email responses, and a lack of follow-up even after victims submit documents and evidence directly at government offices.
Hundreds of Complaints Filed Through Digital Platform
The report also mentioned that Khoj Samachar has created a digital complaint registration platform for people facing foreign employment-related problems.
Khoj Samachar’s digital complaint registration platform had received 411 foreign employment-related complaints as of publication time.
Despite the large number of complaints, concerns remain over whether the Department of Foreign Employment is responding effectively to those seeking help.
Even basic communication remains difficult, as calls made to the department’s official numbers often go unanswered. Similarly, many people reportedly do not receive replies to their emails.
Victims have also expressed frustration that even after visiting offices physically and submitting proof, proper hearings and action are often delayed.
- 437 passports recovered during the manpower raid
- Rs 790,000 in unreceipted cash seized
- 411 complaints submitted through a digital complaint platform
- Malaysia workers reportedly allowed to pay only Rs 10,000 in additional charges
Fraud Cases Also Affect Nepalis Abroad
The report stated that recruitment-related fraud does not only happen inside Nepal but also affects Nepalis living abroad.
A recent investigation aired through Khoj Samachar’s “Janata Sang Media” program reportedly exposed a travel agency named Air Bun operating in Malaysia.
According to the report, the agency allegedly sold fake flight tickets to multiple Nepalis, resulting in financial losses amounting to hundreds of thousands of rupees.
Khoj Samachar had previously published a detailed report on the case involving the alleged Malaysia fake ticket scam.
The media outlet stated that evidence involving 12 victims had already been presented publicly and that additional complaints are still under review.
The case has added to growing concerns about how migrant workers remain vulnerable even after reaching foreign countries for employment.
Calls Grow for Faster Action Against Manpower Irregularities
Public frustration over manpower fraud continues to grow as more victims come forward with complaints.
Khoj Samachar receives daily complaints through email and WhatsApp from people facing issues connected to foreign employment recruitment and migration processes.
Many believe stronger monitoring, regular inspections, and faster complaint handling are necessary to reduce fraud in the manpower sector.
The report argued that if authorities seriously calculate the number of people affected by foreign employment fraud each day, the figure could exceed hundreds nationwide.
While the recent raid has been described as a positive step, many citizens expect the Labour Ministry and the Department of Foreign Employment to increase inspections and take more consistent action against companies accused of violating rules.
There is now growing public expectation that the current government will move beyond promises and take stronger steps to improve transparency, accountability, and protection for migrant workers seeking employment abroad.
