Ever since the Malaysian government annonced that it will implement biometric medical test system for migrant workers, it has raised a furor among those seeking overseas jobs as well as Nepal Foreign Employment Medical Association (NFEMA) and Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA).

Stating that the existing health check-up system is not infallible, Malaysia, which recruits the highest number of Nepali migrants, decided to introduce the new system from Sunday. If the biometric medical test system is implemented, medical test centers in Nepal will have to purchase software and equipments from a Malaysian company, Bestinet, and each of such centers will have to invest US $ 8,000 (around Rs 800,000) in it. 

On top of that, the centers will have to renew their license yearly by paying 33 percent of the initial investment. It means additional costs of than Rs 200,000. There are 305 authorized medical test centers in Nepal. As of now the Malaysian government is set to provide authenticity to only around 30 centers.

The stakeholders have been expressing strong reservation over the system stating such a system will put additional burden on Nepali migrant workers. They say the new system being imposed by the Malaysian authorities would have immense bearing on Nepal´s economy as remittance is the economic mainstay. 

“The price of medical test for each Nepali worker will reach up to Rs. 14,000 if biometric medical test system is introduced in Nepal. Most of the poor Nepali workers cannot afford that,” said Madhav Gautam, general secretary of NFEMA. Under the new medical test system, each Malaysia-bound worker will have to pay additional Rs 1,500 in Nepal and 180 Malaysian Ringgit (around Rs 5300) in Malaysia. 

Currently, Nepali workers on their way to Malaysia are paying Rs 2,525 for all their medical tests. Gautam opined that the Malaysian government should let the medical test centers purchase medical equipments themselves. 

“No software costs Rs 800,000. We can easily get medical equipment for the biometric system for worth Rs 80,000. Now, why is the Malaysian government charging such a chunk of money for the software?” General Secretary of the NAFAE Kamal Gurung went on to charge the Malaysian government with trying to impose “syndicate” in medical test system.

A highly-placed source at the Ministry of Labor and Employment told Republica that the ministry will give a nod to the Malaysian authorities to implement biometric system only if other countries also comply with the new system. 

On the other hand, the government authorities have accepted the fact that the death rate in foreign employment is high because of lack of proper medical treatment of migrant workers prior to departure to destination countries. They said that Nepali migrant workers are dying abroad due to lack of proper medical check-up prior departure to destination countries. 

Talking to Republica, Acting Executive Director of Foreign Employment Promotion Board (FEPB), Tika Bhandari said that Nepali migrants are not conducting full body, including heart, kidney, liver, check-up before flying abroad for employment. 

“Our research shows that Nepali workers are exposed to extreme physical hardship while cultivating and harvesting palm trees in Malaysian forests,” he told Republica, adding, “Even though the acclimatization is not a major concerned when it comes to Malaysia, we have found that many Nepali workers, nonetheless, working especially in furniture factories are dying there. It requires immense physical strength.” 

He was of view that each and every Nepali aspiring for a job in Malaysia or the Gulf region should get proper medical treatment in a bid to ensure they are physically fit for hard work and that free from life-threatening diseases. “When a person having heart disease or any other disease goes for employment, the person won´t be able to work under such heat in the Gulf countries and it results in death,” he added. 

According to data obtained from various sources, there are more than 500,000 Nepali migrant workers in Malaysia and around 600 head for that country everyday.

What is biometric medical system anyway?

Biometric medical test system is an automated form of health check-up that involves fingerprints scanner or video camera.

Biometric heath testing system can read out the level of cholesterol, weight and height, blood glucose, body mass Index (BMI) and blood tests. This system can also perform ultrasound artery screening which is helpful to determine the risk factor for stroke. Such a system is capable of spotting problems of cardiovascular and nervous system. 

This kind of health test system is significant to make people aware about the status of their health and determine health risk level for specific diseases including other medical conditions. As per a data of the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE), the death rate of Nepali migrant workers is highest in Malaysia, followed by Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

A total of 165 Nepali workers died in Malaysia in the year 2010, and another 239 in 2011, 236 in 2013, and a total of 286 died in the year 2013. In less than four months (from January to mid-April this year) 83 Nepali migrants have already lost their lives there.

The most common cause of death of Nepali workers in Malaysia and the Gulf is cardiac arrest followed by heart attack. 

NAFEA and NFEMA up in arms 

Nepal Foreign Employment Medical Association (NFEMA) and Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA) have launched a series of protest programs against the implementation of biometric medical test system for migrant workers by Malaysia. 

The umbrella organization of medical test centers and manpower agencies, have decided to take to the streets expressing strong reservation to the “imposed” system. NFEMA staged a three-hour long sit-in protest in front of the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu on Friday. More than 500 people participated. The NFEMA and NAFEA have also submitted a memorandum to the Malaysian Ambassador in Nepal on Friday, demanding revocation of the bio-metric system. 

“We informed the ambassador about problems that Nepali migrants would face in future if biometric system is introduced. However, the ambassador suggested that the Nepal government should give them a clear idea if it wants to implement the biometric in Nepal or not,” Gautam told Republica.

The NFEMA is planning to stage protest programs in front of the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) on Sunday morning. Likewise NFEMA and NAFEA are jointly organizing another protest program at Hanumanthan, Anamnagar, on June 16. Organizing a press conference on Thursday, NAFEA also announced its phase-wise protest programs against the biometric system. 

´We have been informed that the Malaysian government is inaugurating the biometric system on Sunday. We, at any cost, won´t let impose the system in Nepal,” Gautam added.

Published on: 15 June 2014 | Republica