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The online system at Tribhuvan International Airport malfunctioned on Monday afternoon, causing disruptions to international flights for about an hour and a half. This is not the first time such an incident has occurred, as the airport experienced a similar problem on January 28, when flights were halted for more than five hours. On that day, many government websites also went offline. It remains unclear who was responsible for this and with what motive. In April 2018, more than 60 government websites, including the Ministry of Home Affairs and Public Service Commission, were hacked, with the hacker claiming responsibility on social media. These incidents of cyber attacks highlight the weaknesses in our cyber security. Recently, Communication and Information Technology Minister Rekha Sharma commented in a program that "the key is not with the government." It appears that the government is not taking the issue of cyber security seriously. There is currently no strong legal framework or regulatory body in place to address these threats, and the system of keeping data backups in government offices is proving to be ineffective. Furthermore, the trend of unauthorized access to government websites is increasing, and while data may not always be stolen, it still exposes our system to potential risks. Experts have warned that as long as our data is stored with foreign vendors, there is a risk of data insecurity, theft, and potential sharing of information with foreign agencies. It is crucial to take caution to ensure our data is not misused, as one expert emphasized. Despite the concerns, information technology expert Suresh Karna believes that government agencies are not giving enough attention to cyber security. Karna highlighted that discussions have taken place, but responsible bodies and individuals have not taken enough action to address the issue. Instead of blaming others, Karna suggested that the focus should be on making our system more robust. Foreign attacks on government websites have occurred periodically, and it is becoming increasingly clear that even if data theft does not occur immediately after an attack, the risk remains high. According to Dipesh Bista, CEO of the e-Governance Commission, attacks can also be done for "testing" purposes or to express dissatisfaction with the government or organization. It is essential to take proactive steps to address these threats and safeguard our data. Experts have pointed out that there may be issues with servers, backups, and management in government agencies that could contribute to cyber security risks. However, Bista argues that some agencies may label such incidents as attacks to hide their weaknesses. He believes that a robust system can help avoid such risks. Karna noted that neglecting security due to cost considerations is a dangerous approach. He emphasized the importance of giving equal attention to both software and hardware security. Furthermore, it is crucial to secure the computers to which users connect to government websites. Karna advised users to be careful and avoid creating any weak points that attackers can exploit. "Computer users connected to the server should be vigilant and avoid opening anything they please," he said. Karna also warned that clicking on unsafe links can activate a code that compromises the computer and the system. He emphasized the need for better regulation of important government websites and noted that the challenges in cyber security are increasing. It is crucial to address these issues promptly to safeguard our data and systems. Madhav Bhattarai, former vice-chairman of the High-Level Commission on Information Technology, believes that the entire cyber security policy needs to be reviewed. He emphasized the need for special measures to ensure the safety of government websites and data. Bhattarai noted that no matter how hard one tries, security remains a challenge, and we must be careful. Despite various ministries focusing on information technology, integration issues have led to problems. Bhattarai called for national security standards and strict monitoring of government agency practices to enhance cyber security. Experts agree that a monitoring mechanism is necessary as the current structure is inadequate to provide cyber security. Bhattarai warned that failing to take action would only increase the risk. He emphasized the need for a concerted effort to improve IT equipment systems and security, with coordination between government agencies and the private sector to provide effective services. Binod Dhakal, former President of Computer Association Nepal Federation (CAN Federation), believes that the lack of infrastructure is a major challenge in addressing cyber threats in Nepal. Although the government has allocated a budget for information technology and security, Dhakal argues that the weak spending and utilization practices of government agencies have made the government website vulnerable to attacks. "The banking system is strong, but government websites are running into problems more frequently," Dhakal said. According to Karna, the absence of a monitoring body is another issue. He suggests that a body should be established to watch, monitor, and respond to cyber threats. "If this happens, the risk can be avoided," he added. Ramesh Pokharel, assistant director at the National Information Technology Center, points out that the January 28 attack could have been prevented by using security devices. While small attacks are happening from time to time, Pokharel believes that security should always be a priority in building websites and apps. "We should always be prepared because attacks can happen anytime," he said. Sanjay Pudasaini, an assistant professor at Kathmandu University, believes that although security cannot be 100 percent, it should be accessible. "Prioritizing traditional security measures isn't going to help. We need to have updated measures," Pudasaini said, adding that risks have increased due to carelessness and negligence. He also highlighted the failure of Nepal to implement the digital Nepal framework and the lack of a national policy on cyber security. Although measures for handling cyber attacks have been put in place, the implementation has been ineffective. Pudasaini argues that there should be a policy to update laws related to cyber security every two years. Pudasaini stressed the need for regular security assessments by both government and corporate entities. He also suggested the implementation of proactive laws and increasing awareness to protect data.

Nepali migrant workers won’t be able to board their flights to destination countries from the newly built Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa—at least not in the immediate future.                   The government, however, is making preparations to issue labor permits to workers from the city itself. This service is currently available only from the Foreign Employment Office in Tahachal, Kathmandu.  As a result, people applying for overseas jobs from across the country are compelled to visit Kathmandu.

Thousands of workers are expected to benefit from the recent decision of the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security to open a branch of Foreign Employment Office in Bhairahawa. It is said the decision is also aimed at supporting the new Bhairahawa airport, as it is expected to get passengers in the form of aspiring migrant workers traveling to get their labor permits. 

Labor Minister Kirshna Kumar Shrestha has claimed that all services relating to foreign employment will be made available from Bhairahawa by mid-June.  

“Besides opening a branch of Foreign Employment Office, the government will also set up a job orientation center and medical check-up facility for workers,” he said at a function organized by the Bhairahawa Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently. 

As the Foreign Employment Office and its services are all centralized, most overseas employment agencies—commonly referred as manpower companies—are also located in Kathmandu, causing inconvenience to their clients, the majority of whom are from outside the Capital city. 

Labor migration researchers and workers have long been asking the authorities to decentralize the services of Foreign Employment Office to facilitate the job application process for workers. 

Decentralization of services is also expected to reduce the crowd at the Kathmandu-based Foreign Employment Office. 

“We have proposed an organization and management survey for opening a foreign employment branch office in Bhairahawa. In the meantime, we plan to offer the services related to foreign jobs by deploying some workers there,” says Danduraj Ghimire, spokesperson for the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security. 

Ramesh Aryal, chief of Foreign Employment Office in Tahachal, Kathmandu, says since the branch office cannot be opened without conducting the organization and management survey, they plan to provide services to the migrant workers by setting up a liaison office. 

He is positive that migrant workers will soon be able to fly to destination countries from the Bhairahawa airport itself. 

“If all foreign employment-related facilities, medical check-up, and job orientation are made available in Bhairahawa, workers can board their flights to destination countries from the Gautam Buddha International Airport,” he says. “This will be possible also because the government has introduced online services regarding foreign employment for those who are applying for jobs on their own.”

Hundreds of migrant workers continue to get swindled despite several laws in place. 

The Department of Foreign Employment has received around 800 complaints against fraud overseas job agents and agencies in the last nine months. The complainants have requested for the recovery of Rs 373m from fraud agents and agencies. Nearly half of them were defrauded off about Rs 232m by individual agents. 

These fraud victims are entitled to get a total of Rs 600m in compensation, but most of them have not, as the department has been unable to deal with the complaints swiftly. The department already has many pending cases from the previous years. 

Out of around 800 complaints filed in the last nine months, only 45 cases have been registered for legal aid and 150 cases are under review. The department also brokered settlements in 73 cases and provided nearly Rs 55m to the victims. Forty-seven job agencies were also made to pay Rs 14m in compensation. 

“The majority of cases are concerning agents and agencies charging high fees from workers with the false promise of jobs abroad,” says Shesh Narayan Poudel, director-general of the department.

Cases of workers getting sent for jobs different than what they had been promised are also fairly common. 

“In most cases, we try to negotiate settlements between the victims and the concerned agencies and agents. If that doesn’t work, we take the matter to the court,” says Poudel. 

Fraud cases have not been discouraged despite the government announcing ‘Free Visa, Free Ticket’ policy in 2015. This is largely due to the failure of the concerned authorities to enforce the policy and take action against unscrupulous agencies and agents. 

Rameshwor Nepal, a labor migration researcher, says many foreign job agencies and agents have adopted the policy of earning by hook or by crook, and the workers are at the receiving end. 

“Overseas job industry is rife with frauds,” he says. “This wouldn’t be the case had the laws and regulations brought to protect the workers were implemented strictly.”

Under the ‘Fee Visa, Free Ticket’ rule, it was said, foreign job agencies cannot charge more than Rs 10,000 as a service fee from their clients. But many job agencies have been found charging their clients up to 20 times more than the set ceiling.

Advocate Som Luitel, who specializes in migrant workers’ rights, says many people are becoming victims of fraud from foreign job agencies because they do not know about their legal rights. 

“Many victims cannot furnish enough evidence to back up their claims. On top of that, the foreign employment department has also failed to investigate the cases effectively,” he says.

Anandaraj Pant, registrar at the department, says ideally, it should take no longer than three months to settle one case, but many victims don’t get justice for years because they cannot substantiate their claims with evidence. 

“Cases involving agents can get particularly hard because they abscond after swindling their victims,” he says.

Three years ago, then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had inaugurated a set of electric buses by traveling on one from the Pulchowk-based Sajha Yatayat premises to his office in Singha Durbar. He had then announced the start of an age of ‘Electric Vehicle (EV)’ and that, by 2020, 20 percent of the public vehicles would be EVs. But come 2021, that dream is still far off. 

The buses inaugurated by the prime minister had to be returned to the company as they were substandard. The company subsequently gave five buses to the Nepal government. The buses, owned by the Tourism Ministry, were taken to Lumbini to be operated in the second international airport there. However, they have since been gathering dust in the parking lot of the Lumbini Development Trust.

The five buses, produced by the well-known Chinese company BYD, were supposed to be operated by Sajha Yatayat initially. 

In 2018, the government allocated Rs 3 billion to Sajha Yatayat, which was invested in shares, to procure electric buses. But in February 2020 the government asked for the money back along with interest following a delay in procurement. Sajha refused to return the money. Then, in February 2021, the government again allowed Sajha Yatayat to purchase electric buses. 

Environment expert Bhushan Tuladhar, who is also executive director of Sajha Yatayat, says excessive use of petroleum products has been increasing air pollution and depleting state coffers. “There is no alternative to electric vehicles in order to save the environment and secure state coffers,” says Tuladhar, adding, “we can replace all petroleum vehicles in a decade if the government so wants.” 

Also read: Bandarjhula settlers caught between wildlife and wily politicians 

Sajha Yatayat has signed a deal to bring 40 buses from China’s CHTC. Sajha paid $3.7 million for 40 buses and 20 chargers. Besides, the Sajha has agreed to pay an additional $6.7 million to the Chinese company for necessary training, maintenance and spare parts.

On 26 March 2021, Sajha had invited bids for bus-procurement and selected CHTC from among nine applicants. According to the agreement, the Chinese company will supply three buses, which will be tested in Kathmandu, after which remaining buses will be delivered. 

Tuladhar says Sajha is planning to import more buses in coordination with Lalitpur Metropolitan City. 

Likewise, Sajha is arranging charging stations via an agreement with Nepal Electricity Authority, and also researching conversion of old diesel vehicles into electric ones. 

In the past two years, both the federal and provincial governments had made public their plans to purchase environment-friendly electric buses. Private sector has invested in electric vehicles as well, with Sundar Yatayat starting electric vehicles on Kathmandu-Sindhuli route. 

According to Thapa, the cost of electric vehicles came down by up to Rs 2.2 million apiece after the government reduced import charges.  

While Nepalis going for work abroad fall into the 18 to 40-year-old category, most of them are in their prime in terms of age. All workers who go abroad need to go through a mandatory health screening before their departure. They also need to go through a health check after reaching the destination country.

Despite this, the number of Nepalis losing their lives abroad has more than doubled in the past year alone. Just this week the mortal remains of three workers and the bodies of 24 others were repatriated from Malaysia.                                                  

According to the Foreign Employment Board, 1,242 people lost their lives working abroad in the fiscal year 2020/21. This means that during the year, three Nepalis died every day while working abroad. According to the board, 674 people had died in the previous year. In the past 13 years, 9,424 Nepalis have died working abroad.

The figures represent the tip of an iceberg, as the board does not maintain records on Nepalis who die while working without a permit. According to anecdotal evidence, on average two undocumented workers die every day.

In most cases, the cause of death is never ascertained as the body is sent without a proper postmortem. Workers say that most deaths are attributed to heart attack, suicide, road accident, illness, and workplace accidents.

Labor expert Ganesh Gurung says it is the responsibility of the state to make sure that proper post mortems are carried out to ascertain the cause of death.

“That the death rate among healthy workers is high means that we need to ascertain the risk carefully,” says Bhattarai, another labor expert.

Four years ago, after the Supreme Court ordered the government to find out why Nepalis were dying in numbers abroad, the government had formed a committee to look into the issue. However, the committee couldn’t come up with a clear conclusion.

Bhattarai, says that workers are also to blame for some of the deaths abroad. He says that there is a growing tendency among workers to refuse to take part in orientation related to their work, which might be precarious at times.

Recruiting agents want workers to leave as soon as possible after they secure a job for them. The workers are also in a hurry and don’t get adequate information about the climate, lifestyle, and laws of the destination country.

Some Nepalis die in their sleep due to the tendency to work in temperatures over 55 degrees during the day and sleep in the cold of an AC at night.

According to Bhattarai, another cause of death is stress. "Family members in Nepal pressure the workers to send money home," he says. "The pressure to make money has led to an increase in the number of deaths due to poor health care."

Labor experts say that the onus is on the government to sign bilateral agreements with host countries to ensure the safety of workers. "Concrete steps about the problem can only be taken at the highest level of government," said Bhattarai. "The embassy alone can’t do much."

The board, meanwhile, says it plans to teach workers about workplace safety, stress management, and health security before they depart for work.

Deputy Secretary Deenbandhu Subedi, says that training will be organized from this fiscal year. But experts question the effectiveness of such training without high-level bilateral agreements between the government and the host country.

More than three-quarters of the 500,000 people entering the labor market are forced to go for foreign employment. The number of migrant workers in Nepal is increasing day by day along with the increase in the number of people going for foreign employment because of lack of employment in the country.

According to the Department of Foreign Employment, more than 400,000 workers used to go for foreign employment before Covid-19. Following the Covid pandemic, the number has decreased to 100,000. But due to the lack of employment in the country, the number of people wanting to go abroad to work is compelling. On the other hand, despite the decrease in the number of migrant workers due to the covid situation, Nepal’s industry and business sector complain of not getting enough workers.

Industrialists claim that the problem arises when there are no trained and skilled workers. Foreign nationals are working in Nepal’s service sectors, mega-projects with foreign investment projects, construction sector, information technology, and also as pilots and engineers among other professions. Despite the dominance of Indian migrant workers in most parts of Nepal, the government has not been able to keep accurate statistics on foreign nationals employed here.

The Department of Labor and Occupational Affairs says that 1,437 foreign nationals from 59 countries have received labor permits till the first week of April. According to the department, more than 2,000 foreign nationals have been working with labor permits in a year. The Labor Act 2074 and the Labor Rules 2075 have set strict criteria for the acceptance of foreign workers. Any company employing foreigners can only hire up to 5 percent of its total workers.

According to Maninath Gop, director of the department, the number of new and renewed foreign workers has decreased in recent times. According to the department, 1,028 people from China, 62 from the United Kingdom, 46 from Japan, 45 from India, 38 from the United States, 29 from Korea, 24 from Spain, 16 from the Philippines, 14 from France, 13 from Australia and 11 from Germany have received work permits.

President of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Shekhar Golchha says that about 800,000 Indian citizens are working in Nepal. “Currently, there are 780,000 Indian workers working in Nepal. Nepali employers are looking to hire local people but not getting enough workers. It is important to find out the reason why this is happening,” says Golchha. FNCCI states that despite discussions on increasing investment and job creation in the country, it has not happened. Chairman Golchha says that although labor conditions are improving, much remains to be done to make labor relations sustainable and reliable.

The share of migrant workers in the gross domestic product is more than 25 percent. With more than Rs 8 trillion in remittances, the number of Nepalis going abroad has decreased after Covid-19 and remittances have declined. A total of 461,455 people have returned home after losing their jobs due to covid. Millions of young people who want to go abroad are left unemployed.

Economist Gyanendra Adhikari says that the government prioritize creation of employment in the country. He says that foreign nationals could be displaced if the workers could be made efficient by giving them work on the spot. Although the government has announced a partnership with the private sector in the current fiscal year to employ Nepali workers, it has not been implemented yet.

Prolonged complete or partial lockdown between April and August have been tough on the Nepali economy. The economy has been open for hardly a month in the past six months. During this time, say industrialists, 70 to 80 percent of economic activities in the country came to a complete halt.

Kishor Pradhan, vice-president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, estimates that unemployment in the country is up by 80 percent and production has declined by as much. “From now, only the places with high number of infections should be under strict lockdown,” Pradhan recommends.

Former Nepal Rastra Bank Executive Director Nara Bahadur Thapa says the country can bear no more losses due to lockdowns and restrictions. “The economy is already in a critical stage,” he says.

Foreign Minister and government spokesperson Pradeep Gyawali has also spoken about the government’s obligation to keep the national economy afloat despite the health crisis.

Many daily wage workers have had to go hungry during the lockdown, says Thapa adding, “The Indian economy is also opening up despite the rapidly rising number of Covid-19 cases. We should do accordingly.” Thapa is optimistic that Covid-19 vaccines will soon be available.

As the economic crisis escalates, the government has decided to open up many areas. Industrialists are confident that economic activities will increase with the resumption of long-distance transport, hotels, restaurants, trekking, and domestic flights. Covid-19 has hit the service sector particularly hard. According to Thapa, only one-fourth of the service sector, which contributes 58 percent to the GDP, were in operation between April and August.

Likewise, agriculture contributes 27 percent to the GDP and, thankfully, the pandemic does not seem to have created many problems in the sector. Thapa is confident that despite the ongoing shortage of fertilizers, the contribution of agriculture to the GDP will not decline this year.

Industrialists are of the view that the national economy won’t regain its previous rhythm unless restrictions on free flow of people and vehicles are completely lifted. In this context, says FNCCI’s Pradhan, it is good to note that economic activities have picked up following the resumption of transport on September 20.

Sometime ago, officials of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) had met President Bidhya Devi Bhandari and petitioned her against imposing another crippling lockdown that could potentially ruin the economy.

The government has also failed on its commitments. According to Pradhan, even though the monetary policy has clear refinancing provisions, banks have started tightening their screws on debt-saddled businesses. “Now there is talk of reducing the previous loan rate to five percent instead of refinancing,” Pradhan says. “It is sad that the government is unable to implement its own monetary policy.”