Lawmakers urge immediate rescue of stranded Nepali workers in Saudi Arabia

KATHMANDU: Lawmakers in today’s meeting of the House of Representatives have strongly called for the immediate rescue of Nepali migrant workers stranded abroad, especially in Saudi Arabia.

During the Zero Hour, Gyan Bahadur Shahi, a Member of Parliament from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), raised serious concern over the plight of 469 Nepali workers reportedly being held hostage in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.

He urged the government to take swift action for their rescue and drew the attention of both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security to the issue.

Shahi also warned that Nepali workers continue to fall victim to exploitation and fraud in foreign employment, calling for more proactive efforts from the government to protect them and ensure timely interventions when problems arise.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Rama Koirala Paudel proposed the formation of a tripartite labor commission to better manage the foreign employment sector. She stressed the need to safeguard workers’ rights and involve representatives from the government, employers, and workers in a commission that could address the persistent issues Nepali migrant workers face abroad.

Additionally, Paudel highlighted the hardship faced by locals in Guthi Chaur of Jumla due to prolonged power outages, calling on the government to restore electricity supply promptly.

Similarly, Congress MP Ram Krishna Yadav demanded immediate relief and rehabilitation support for families affected by a recent fire in Kamala Municipality–5 of Dhanusha district.