The International Relations and Labour Committee of the Legislature-Parliament has directed the government not to implement biometric health test system for Nepalis seeking employment in Malaysia. It has also instructed the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) to carry out an investigation to determine the legitimacy of 39 medical centres that conduct the health test.

Today, the committee said that since the Malaysian government did not fully accept the conditions set by Nepal, there is need of additional study over the biometric test provision. The decision was taken after discussions were held with Minister for Labour and Employment Tek Bahadur Gurung and representatives of foreign employment agencies.

Prabhu Sah, chairman of the committee, said that they have asked MoLE not to implement the system for now. Taking a stand against Malaysia’s decision to hire only workers who have undergone biometric tests, protesting Nepali recruiting agencies have also been threatening to stop supply of workers to Malaysia.

The Malaysian government implemented the biometric test from January 15 this year for migrant workers. Last week, the country had also written to Nepal to comply with its biometric test rule. The rule has been implemented as part of the Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS) of Malaysia. The country is the largest labour market for Nepali job aspirants.

However, Nepal government is yet to give its official decision. The parliamentary committee has also expressed concern over reports of medical centres already carrying out biometric tests before the government has reached an official decision regarding whether or not to implement the new health test provision.

MoLE has been instructed to conduct investigation to check how the centres procured the necessary equipment, whether or not the required permission was issued by authorities concerned and take necessary action. Based on the directive, MoLE will also have to submit a progress report of the investigation to the committee.

As per the website of Bestinet Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian company that compiles the biometric test reports of workers, a total of 39 Nepali medical centres are authorised to conduct the biometric health test in Nepal. Citing that the Malaysian company listed names of Nepali medical centres in its website without the permission of Nepal government, the committee had directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to write to the Malaysian government to remove the names of the medical centres from the site.

Even as Malaysia implemented the new health test system, Nepali recruiting agencies are in protest. Last week, irate agencies had also formed a joint struggle committee to put pressure not to implement the biometric test for Nepali workers. The committee comprises members from Nepal Democratic Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs’ Forum, Progressive Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs Forum and Nepal Foreign Employment Tamudhi. 

Over 50 per cent members of the executive committee of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies — the umbrella organisation of foreign employment agencies — are also against the biometric test system.

Published on: 29 January 2015 | The Himalayan Times