December 31: Nepali workers currently in foreign employment can now onward renew their labour permit through online medium. The Department of Foreign Employment is preparing to implement this provision from January 1, 2021.

The Department of Foreign employment confirmed that workers can renew their labour permits online from January 1 onwards. However, this facility is not available for new labour permits. The department clarified that this new facility is currently available only for renewal of labour permits.

The Department of Foreign Employment grants labour permits for a period of two years. After the two-year period of labour permit expires, the workers are forced to return to Nepal for the renewal process. Although Nepal’s embassies were said to provide the renewal service, it has not been implemented so far.

But now, the Nepali migrant workers no longer need to visit the department to renew the permit as it can be done through online medium, says Tika Mani Neupane, spokesperson of the Department of Foreign Employment.

In order to renew the labour permit online, the workers should deposit certain amount in the welfare fund and also pay the term life insurance premium in advance. The department has collaborated with digital wallets like eSewa and Khalti to avail the payment service.