KATHMANDU: Experts have said that the government’s decision to increase the orientation period and fees has only added hassles to youths heading to foreign job destinations.
The government recently increased the orientation period and fees by amending the Procedures for Conducting Orientation Training, 2019. According to the newly introduced provisions, youths heading to foreign job destinations must first take orientation classes and sit in an online examination. Only the examinees receiving a minimum of 50 marks are eligible for foreign employment.
The fee for orientation class has been raised to Rs 2,800 from the existing Rs 700. The orientation period has been increased by a day to three days.
However, experts say the new measures won’t be effective, as less than 80% of workers do not participate in orientation.
Data compiled by the Employment Promotion Board shows that about 80% of workers leave for foreign job destinations without taking the two-day orientation. These workers receive training certificates without even reaching the training centers.
According to the new provision, students should participate in orientation classes for three hours and basic language classes for three hours for three days. In the orientation, they gain knowledge of the employer country’s language, culture, employment procedures, safety, police regulations, mental health conditions, the climate of the employer country, legal matters, first aid, and general information like fastening the aircraft seatbelt.
Tikaram Dhakal, the spokesperson for the board, said youths heading to foreign job destinations will now take six-hour classes for three days. “Youths must participate in the orientation class after they receive a visa,” Dhakal said. “We raised the fee after the training-providing institutions complained that they won’t be able to conduct classes by charging a small fee of Rs 700 per person,” he added.
According to the board, more than 150 institutions are providing orientation classes for youth heading to foreign job destinations.
Foreign employment expert Madhu Bilas Pandit said the government is adding unnecessary burden on youths heading to foreign job destinations by amending the working procedures without conducting any study. “At a time when youths are not even taking a two-day orientation, the government has extended it to three days,” Pandit said. “The new provisions will create unnecessary troubles for workers.”
He suggested that government agencies first conduct a study on how many workers are actually taking orientation classes.
Out of about 1,700 youths leaving for foreign job destinations on a daily basis, only about 200-300 take orientation classes, a study conducted by the Department of Foreign Employment shows.
Workers have complained that the orientation classes are not becoming effective. “We don’t know why the government is enforcing orientation classes and tests for us,” they added.
Out of youths heading for foreign job destinations, 15% are skilled, and 5% are highly skilled, government data shows. However, recruitment companies claim that more than 90% of youths heading to foreign job destinations are unskilled.
