KATHMANDU: Nepali migrant workers, who flew to Qatar for employment by receiving visas on the basis of mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC), are currently facing hassles, while several stranded.

The Qatar government had in 2018 introduced a provision of NOC to get a visa for skilled and qualified foreign citizens. However, some agents have been misusing this facility in cahoots with some manpower companies. The problem cropped up after the manpower companies supplied unskilled Nepali youths to Qatar, by receiving a huge sum of money from them, misusing the NOC visa provision.

Complaints are, nowadays, piling up at the Department of Foreign Employment against some agents and manpower companies accusing them of sending Nepali workers misusing NOC visa.

Sanjaya Yonjan and Gyan Bahadur Yonjan, who originally hail from Ramechhap, had gone to Qatar on NOC visa two months ago. They have returned home after being stranded in Qatar.

Pashchim Nepal Manpower Company had sent them to the destination based on NOC visa. “The manpower company sent us to Qatar on NOC visa. After being compelled to stay without any jobs in Qatar, we returned home without a single penny,” said Sanjaya.

He complained that the manpower company had earlier assured them of providing a lucrative job in Qatar. “We were 16 altogether to fly to Qatar. Some of them are still stranded there,” said Sanjaya.

According to Sanjaya, they were forced to pay Rs 220,000 each by the Pashchim Nepal Manpower Company.

Likewise, the plight of Suman Khatri, who had gone to Qatar after acquiring the NOC and visa through Swikar Overseas P Ltd by paying Rs 190,000, is no different. He was forced to return home as he did not get the job as promised.

Ministry of Law in Qatar has said that a foreign fraudster involved in such NOC visa scam will be sentenced to one year in jail along with a fine of Rs 626,200.

These are some of the representative cases of fraudulence. There are many Sanjayas and Sumans who have victimized by crooked agents in cahoots manpower companies.

They have been involved in racketeering to fleece innocent foreign job aspirants by misusing NOC visa. Many Nepali youths come to the Department on a daily basis and lodge complaints against agents and manpower companies accusing them of fleecing them in the name of NOC provision, said Hari Gyawali, director at the Department.

Last year, the Department had taken action against 40 people for their involvement in the NOC transaction scam.

According to Gyawali, the Department has taken action against such fraudsters in accordance with the Foreign Employment Act, 2008 and provided due compensation for the victims.

Manpower companies have been sending over 500 youths to Qatar on NOC visa every month promising them with jobs in good companies.

Almost 200 Nepali youths who come to Qatar on NOC visa are forced to return home, said Nepali Embassy in Qatar.

Meanwhile, Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies has demanded with the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security to halt work permit alleging some manpower companies and agents of creating problems by sending Nepali youths on NOC visa.

Last year, a Qatar-based research and monitoring department had sent a letter to Nepali Embassy in Qatar seeking stringent punishment against agents for sending Nepali youths on NOC visa.

Ministry of Law in Qatar has said that a foreign fraudster involved in such NOC visa scam will be sentenced to one year in jail along with a fine of Rs 626,200.