Malaysia to reopen for Nepalese workers

Nepali workers will be able to come to Malaysia for work from April, according to the Nepali Embassy in Malaysia.

Malaysia is considered a popular destination for Nepali workers. The minimum wage for workers in Malaysia is set at 1,200 ringgit.

However, many Nepalese are also living illegally in Malaysia. Even after their visas have expired, many of them remain in the country illegally. The Second Secretary of the Nepali Embassy in Malaysia, Yesu Basnet, has requested the Nepali workers not to stay in Malaysia illegally. She informed via the embassy's weekly Facebook Live program that a plan to repatriate the illegal workers in Malaysia would be carried out. Such a repatriation scheme would be in operation by the end of June.

As this is a golden opportunity, the embassy has urged such workers to return to Nepal as soon as possible without waiting till the last minute.

Through this scheme, illegal people from Malaysia can easily return home. Even if they do not have a valid passport, they can go to the Nepalese Embassy and apply for a travel document.

Arrangements have been made for such persons to get clearance at the Malaysian airport 24 hours before the flight time. An exit pass to Nepal can be obtained from the same immigration counter. However, for this, the traveler must test negative for COVID-19. Similarly, a fine of 500 ringgits should be paid at the airport. Only after all this can one return to Nepal.

The embassy has also requested to contact their labor branch if any worker is not allowed to return to Nepal despite the expiry date of the visa approaching or passed.

When coming to Nepal from Malaysia, those who have been fully vaccinated, that is, have reached 14 days with double dose injection, do not have to undergo Rapid Test (RT) of Polymerized Chain Reaction (PCR). However, at the same time one may have to confirm their negative test to the airlines as they may have their own rules. Those who do not get vaccinated will have to undergo RT PCR.

Malaysia usually blacklists illegal workers for 5 years. Workers who have come back to Nepal on leave from Malaysia and have a valid visa and can return to Malaysia. Workers who have returned to Nepal on leave will not need to stay in quarantine when they go back to Malaysia after next April .

When they return to Nepal from Malaysia and other countries, the amount of goods they bring with them have also been restricted. There is a rule that when they return home, they can bring only one mobile phone to Nepal apart from the one they are using.