Kathmandu: Nepal and Saudi Arabia have signed the first-ever labour agreement between the two countries in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, on January 25. “The Government of Nepal and the Government of Saudi Arabia signed an Agreement on Workers’ Recruitment between the Government of Nepal and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Sunday, with the aim of promoting safe, orderly, and dignified foreign employment of general workers,” reads the statement published by Nepal’s Embassy in Riyadh.
The agreement was signed by the Minister of Labor, Employment and Social Security, Rajendra Singh Bhandari, on behalf of the Government of Nepal, and the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Ahmad bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, on behalf of the Government of Saudi Arabia.
Prior to the signing of the bilateral labor agreement, a bilateral meeting was held between the labor ministers of both countries.
During the signing, Minister Bhandari expressed the belief that this agreement will further institutionalize and strengthen labor cooperation between Nepal and Saudi Arabia. He also expressed his belief that the agreement will be an important document to make the recruitment process of Nepali general workers transparent, fair, and cost-effective. He said that this is expected to protect the rights and employment of Nepali workers working in Saudi Arabia.
The agreement covers issues related to service facilities, working conditions, social security, health services, implementation of labor agreements, grievance management, and the protection of labor rights as priorities. The agreement is expected to ensure the welfare of workers based on the laws of both countries, international labor standards, and mutual understanding. It is believed that this will bring security and stability in the service facilities of Nepali workers working in Saudi Arabia and those coming there in the future.
