KATHMANDU: The government has launched the online labour permit approval service for Nepali workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Nepal’s Embassy in Abu Dhabi is the second diplomatic mission to offer this service, following the Embassy of Nepal in Muscat.

Minister for Labour, Employment, and Social Security Sarat Singh Bhandari inaugurated the service at an event in Dubai, as reported by the Embassy of Nepal in Abu Dhabi.

Minister Bhandari emphasized that the government aims to enhance services gradually by simplifying processes, making them more accessible, and incorporating technology, all in consideration of the welfare of Nepali migrant workers in their destination countries.

He noted that the online labour permit approval would benefit Nepali workers by allowing them to update their documents without having to travel back to Nepal.

Minister Bhandari also mentioned that the service would be gradually extended to other diplomatic missions.

Given that a large portion of Nepal’s youth works abroad and foreign employment is a major source of remittance, Minister Bhandari highlighted the importance of creating policies that protect Nepali migrant workers as part of improved migration governance.

Ambassador of Nepal to the UAE, Tej Bahadur Oli, affirmed the Embassy’s commitment to protecting the rights of Nepali migrant workers, despite limited resources, and underscored efforts to ensure effective service delivery.

The event was attended by representatives from various diaspora organizations, the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), and other stakeholders. Additionally, a labor-focused interaction program was held during the event.

Minister Bhandari visited Dubai to participate in the World Government Summit 2025, which took place from February 11-13.