Nepal Extends Work Permits for Foreign Workers to 12 Years
August 24, 2023 | Investopaper
In a significant policy shift, the Nepalese government’s Department of Labor and Occupational Safety has introduced a new provision allowing foreign workers to obtain work permits for an extended duration of up to 12 years. This policy change, effective from the current fiscal year, replaces the previous provision which limited work permits to a maximum of seven years. The decision aims to accommodate the needs of large-scale projects that employ foreign workers and often span over a decade.
The procedure for bringing in foreign workers necessitates an application from the concerned establishment or project administration. In instances where local labor is not available as required by the establishment, foreign workers can be hired. To facilitate this process, the establishment must apply for a labor permit through the Department.
Initially, foreign workers will be granted a one-year work permit, subject to renewal on an annual basis. For each renewal, a fee of 20,000 Nepalese rupees will be charged. However, foreign workers with assignments of less than one year are subject to a labor permit fee of 15,000 rupees. Notably, foreign workers beyond the 12-year threshold will no longer be eligible to remain in Nepal for employment purposes.
Data pertaining to foreign workers in Nepal reveals that 2,181 foreign workers secured work permits from 280 recognized establishments in the fiscal year 079/80. Of these, 950 were newly granted work permits, while 1,231 workers renewed their existing permits. Notably, a significant number of Chinese nationals held work permits in Nepal, with 1,629 individuals hailing from China. Other represented nationalities included 106 citizens from the United States, 61 from Japan, and 57 from India.
