QATAR - A manpower company, Destination Overseas, produced fraud documents to step up pressure on the Nepali Embassy here to send employees for underpaid work.
The company requested the embassy over phone to send Yug Bahadur and Dik Bahadur Shrestha of Yaku-3 of Bhojpur for work in the guise of their father. The Shrestha brothers along with one Om Prakash Kewat of Nawalparasi are taking refuge at the embassy now after they were paid 550 riyal monthly, which is lower than the labor agreement signed between the two countries.
Furthermore, the company filed an application in the name of Yug's wife at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asking to take initiatives to send them for work. It is learnt that the application was fraudulent. "My wife cannot read and write. But the application bears her signature," Yug Bahadur claimed.In connection with the application, a Counselor Officer at the ministry, Rajendra Pandey, issued order to the embassy to provide necessary help for the victims.The victims said that they could not get the job the overseas company had promised in Nepal.
Nepali Ambassador Dr Surya Nath Mishra said the embassy had not signed any labor agreement below 600 riyal since last January. "We have no objection if they want to work," he said, adding, "But the embassy won't sign labor agreement below that amount."
Sunday, November 23, 2008
UK consular staff issue 300,000 visas wrongly, says expert
London - British consular officials across the world are wrongly approving nearly 300,000 visas to visit Britain every year.
The revelation, which was made during a presentation to the Home Affairs Committee here, has sparked a round of criticism of the Labour government's immigration policy.
"This makes a mockery of Labour's claims to have a grip on our immigration system. It is obvious that its operation is neither firm, nor fair. This error rate not only increases the scope for increased illegal immigration, but is obviously a security threat," said Dominic Grieve, Shadow Home Secretary.
The presentation to the committee was made by Linda Costello-Baker, an independent visa monitor. She said it was "reasonable" to assume that 15 per cent of short-term visa approvals were wrong.
She said that officials were "under pressure" to issue visas to meet productivity targets.
Officials considering visa applications found it much easier to approve visas than reject them, she said, because issuing was a "much faster" process than refusal.
British high commissions, embassies and consulates across the world examine 2.4 million applications each year from tourists, business people and those visiting relatives.
Some of the highest numbers of visa applications are received by offices of the British high commission in India.
"About 80 per cent of visas are issued and yet there has been no external scrutiny over that 80 per cent. I don't think there has been adequate scrutiny of decisions to issue. I think there is pressure to issue visas because it helps people hit their productivity targets," Costello-Baker said. AP
The revelation, which was made during a presentation to the Home Affairs Committee here, has sparked a round of criticism of the Labour government's immigration policy.
"This makes a mockery of Labour's claims to have a grip on our immigration system. It is obvious that its operation is neither firm, nor fair. This error rate not only increases the scope for increased illegal immigration, but is obviously a security threat," said Dominic Grieve, Shadow Home Secretary.
The presentation to the committee was made by Linda Costello-Baker, an independent visa monitor. She said it was "reasonable" to assume that 15 per cent of short-term visa approvals were wrong.
She said that officials were "under pressure" to issue visas to meet productivity targets.
Officials considering visa applications found it much easier to approve visas than reject them, she said, because issuing was a "much faster" process than refusal.
British high commissions, embassies and consulates across the world examine 2.4 million applications each year from tourists, business people and those visiting relatives.
Some of the highest numbers of visa applications are received by offices of the British high commission in India.
"About 80 per cent of visas are issued and yet there has been no external scrutiny over that 80 per cent. I don't think there has been adequate scrutiny of decisions to issue. I think there is pressure to issue visas because it helps people hit their productivity targets," Costello-Baker said. AP
Monday, November 17, 2008
30 with fake visas held
KUALA LUMPUR: Thirty foreign construction workers were detained by the Immigration Department yesterday for possessing fake visas.
They were nabbed by the department's "Black Hawk" squad at a construction site in Jalan Kuda Lari, off Jalan Tun Razak, at 2.30am.Immigration Department enforcement director Datuk Ishak Mohamed said the workers were found hiding in the half-completed underground car park of the building under construction, together with about 70 others who were not detained."We believe the workers were cheated by their employers. They were given fake immigration cards. The employers lied to them, saying their visas had been renewed."He said the immigration card contained a picture of the worker, name, occupation and address of workplace.
Checks revealed the men, from Indonesia, Bangladesh and Nepal, had been working at the site for between two and 10 months.Investigations revealed the workers entered the country legally and worked at plantations and factories before they were lured by the contractor.Ishak said the workers were paid between RM1,000 and RM1,200 monthly, but they had to work daily. The salary is slightly higher than their previous pay in the two sectors.He said the detainees were now in the department's Putrajaya lockup.
They were nabbed by the department's "Black Hawk" squad at a construction site in Jalan Kuda Lari, off Jalan Tun Razak, at 2.30am.Immigration Department enforcement director Datuk Ishak Mohamed said the workers were found hiding in the half-completed underground car park of the building under construction, together with about 70 others who were not detained."We believe the workers were cheated by their employers. They were given fake immigration cards. The employers lied to them, saying their visas had been renewed."He said the immigration card contained a picture of the worker, name, occupation and address of workplace.
Checks revealed the men, from Indonesia, Bangladesh and Nepal, had been working at the site for between two and 10 months.Investigations revealed the workers entered the country legally and worked at plantations and factories before they were lured by the contractor.Ishak said the workers were paid between RM1,000 and RM1,200 monthly, but they had to work daily. The salary is slightly higher than their previous pay in the two sectors.He said the detainees were now in the department's Putrajaya lockup.
34 illegal immigrants nabbed in Malacca
MALACCA: More than 1,000 migrant workers were screened by the authorities during a crackdown on illegal immigrants.
State Public Order chief Supt Fauzi Zaman said 34 illegal immigrants were held during the operation at a shopping complex next to the former bus station at Jalan Tun Ali, which is a favourite haunt for migrant workers.
The joint operation under Ops Sepadu began at 2pm with officers gathering workers from Hang Tuah Mall, Ocean Shopping Mall and the surrounding areas for screening, he told reporters at a press conference yesterday.
From the 1,038 migrant workers screened, 15 Indonesians, nine Bangladeshis, seven Nepalese and three Myanmars were detained for various offences under immigration laws.
He said the aim of the operation was to ensure the city remained free of illegal immigrants, especially in areas located within the city’s tourist belt.
A total of 112 officers from the Immigration Department, National Registration Department, police and Rela took part in the five-hour operation.
State Public Order chief Supt Fauzi Zaman said 34 illegal immigrants were held during the operation at a shopping complex next to the former bus station at Jalan Tun Ali, which is a favourite haunt for migrant workers.
The joint operation under Ops Sepadu began at 2pm with officers gathering workers from Hang Tuah Mall, Ocean Shopping Mall and the surrounding areas for screening, he told reporters at a press conference yesterday.
From the 1,038 migrant workers screened, 15 Indonesians, nine Bangladeshis, seven Nepalese and three Myanmars were detained for various offences under immigration laws.
He said the aim of the operation was to ensure the city remained free of illegal immigrants, especially in areas located within the city’s tourist belt.
A total of 112 officers from the Immigration Department, National Registration Department, police and Rela took part in the five-hour operation.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Visas denied for Nepalese World Youth Day pilgrims
Ballarat Courier, Australia - TWENTY-EIGHT Nepalese pilgrims who were to be hosted by Ballarat North families for World Youth Day have had their visa applications denied.
The pilgrims were originally to stay this week for five days in Ballarat before heading to Sydney to participate in World Youth Day activities. The visa applications were refused for a number of reasons, including that the pilgrims did not have sufficient family ties in Nepal.
The Immigration Department maintains that like other visa applications, those attending World Youth Day are required to show that they have incentives to return to their home country, such as employment, assets or family ties. Stacey Aitken of the Ballarat Catholic Diocese said: "We're disappointed that they're not coming."
The pilgrims were originally to stay this week for five days in Ballarat before heading to Sydney to participate in World Youth Day activities. The visa applications were refused for a number of reasons, including that the pilgrims did not have sufficient family ties in Nepal.
The Immigration Department maintains that like other visa applications, those attending World Youth Day are required to show that they have incentives to return to their home country, such as employment, assets or family ties. Stacey Aitken of the Ballarat Catholic Diocese said: "We're disappointed that they're not coming."
Nepali overseas workers double in five years
KATHMANDU, July 21 - In what may be termed an indication of growing unemployment in the country, the number of Nepali youths moving out for overseas jobs has more than doubled over the past five years.
Slim employment opportunities and greater access to labor destinations amid sprouting manpower agencies has contributed to the soaring number of workers leaving for overseas jobs.
The number of Nepalis going for foreign employment has grown at double-digit steadily over this period. In the fiscal year 2007/08, which ended last week, the number of overseas job goers grew by 20 percent, compared to the previous fiscal year. Statistics of Department of Labor shows that a total of 239,637 Nepali job seekers left for different destinations - mostly for blue-collar work - during the year. The number was 199,191 during the fiscal year 2006/07. Only 106,660 workers in total had left for foreign jobs in fiscal year 2003/04. Officials attribute such a remarkable growth of overseas employment to the positive impact of labor pacts signed by Nepal with four recipient countries.
Over the last two years, Nepal has signed Memorandum of Understanding with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Korea, Qatar and Bahrain to ensure greater rights of Nepali workers there.
As a result of labor agreements and change in working environment, the preferences regarding different destinations have also changed over the period. Qatar became the most favored destination for Nepali workers during the last fiscal year receiving 85,411 workers , 47 percent up from the number recorded during a year earlier. Data shows, Malaysia became the second largest country from most preferred destination in the last fiscal year. It received only 50,526 Nepali workers, which was about 28 percent less than the previous fiscal year. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia also witnessed double digit growth in the arrival of Nepali workers. However, more than 93 percent of the total outgoing workers are concentrated on the largest four recipients due to lack of diversification of labor destinations.
"Lack of employment opportunities within the country has drive up the number of Nepali workers seeking overseas jobs even for meager remuneration," Dilli Ram Sharma, director of Department of Labor and Employment Promotion (DoLEP) told the Post. "Increasing personal access to the outer world has also helped in finding overseas jobs in recent years, said Sharma.
Slim employment opportunities and greater access to labor destinations amid sprouting manpower agencies has contributed to the soaring number of workers leaving for overseas jobs.
The number of Nepalis going for foreign employment has grown at double-digit steadily over this period. In the fiscal year 2007/08, which ended last week, the number of overseas job goers grew by 20 percent, compared to the previous fiscal year. Statistics of Department of Labor shows that a total of 239,637 Nepali job seekers left for different destinations - mostly for blue-collar work - during the year. The number was 199,191 during the fiscal year 2006/07. Only 106,660 workers in total had left for foreign jobs in fiscal year 2003/04. Officials attribute such a remarkable growth of overseas employment to the positive impact of labor pacts signed by Nepal with four recipient countries.
Over the last two years, Nepal has signed Memorandum of Understanding with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Korea, Qatar and Bahrain to ensure greater rights of Nepali workers there.
As a result of labor agreements and change in working environment, the preferences regarding different destinations have also changed over the period. Qatar became the most favored destination for Nepali workers during the last fiscal year receiving 85,411 workers , 47 percent up from the number recorded during a year earlier. Data shows, Malaysia became the second largest country from most preferred destination in the last fiscal year. It received only 50,526 Nepali workers, which was about 28 percent less than the previous fiscal year. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia also witnessed double digit growth in the arrival of Nepali workers. However, more than 93 percent of the total outgoing workers are concentrated on the largest four recipients due to lack of diversification of labor destinations.
"Lack of employment opportunities within the country has drive up the number of Nepali workers seeking overseas jobs even for meager remuneration," Dilli Ram Sharma, director of Department of Labor and Employment Promotion (DoLEP) told the Post. "Increasing personal access to the outer world has also helped in finding overseas jobs in recent years, said Sharma.
Manpower company of Nepal submits false documents
QATAR, July 22 - A manpower company, Destination Overseas, produced fraud documents to step up pressure on the Nepali Embassy here to send employees for underpaid work. The company requested the embassy over phone to send Yug Bahadur and Dik Bahadur Shrestha of Yaku-3 of Bhojpur for work in the guise of their father.
The Shrestha brothers along with one Om Prakash Kewat of Nawalparasi are taking refuge at the embassy now after they were paid 550 riyal monthly, which is lower than the labor agreement signed between the two countries. Furthermore, the company filed an application in the name of Yug's wife at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asking to take initiatives to send them for work. It is learnt that the application was fraudulent.
"My wife cannot read and write. But the application bears her signature," Yug Bahadur claimed.
In connection with the application, a Counselor Officer at the ministry, Rajendra Pandey, issued order to the embassy to provide necessary help for the victims.
The victims said that they could not get the job the overseas company had promised in Nepal.
Nepali Ambassador Dr Surya Nath Mishra said the embassy had not signed any labor agreement below 600 riyal since last January. "We have no objection if they want to work," he said, adding, "But the embassy won't sign labor agreement below that amount."
The Shrestha brothers along with one Om Prakash Kewat of Nawalparasi are taking refuge at the embassy now after they were paid 550 riyal monthly, which is lower than the labor agreement signed between the two countries. Furthermore, the company filed an application in the name of Yug's wife at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asking to take initiatives to send them for work. It is learnt that the application was fraudulent.
"My wife cannot read and write. But the application bears her signature," Yug Bahadur claimed.
In connection with the application, a Counselor Officer at the ministry, Rajendra Pandey, issued order to the embassy to provide necessary help for the victims.
The victims said that they could not get the job the overseas company had promised in Nepal.
Nepali Ambassador Dr Surya Nath Mishra said the embassy had not signed any labor agreement below 600 riyal since last January. "We have no objection if they want to work," he said, adding, "But the embassy won't sign labor agreement below that amount."
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