KATHMANDU: The government is set to reopen foreign employment that was closed after Nepal enforced a nationwide lockdown to stem the spread of coronavirus.

A meeting of the COVID-19 Crisis Management Center (CCMC) on Friday decided to allow those who want to go for new employment and those who had to return after arriving in Nepal on leaves.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali informed that the CCMC has decided that they will be sent on the recommendation by the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security.

Likewise, the CCMC meeting has also decided that the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology will recommend those willing to leave for foreign study.

Similarly, the meeting has also decided to allow the family members of Nepali diplomatic missions abroad to go with the required protocol, Minister Gyawali said.

The CCMC has directed the Ministry of Labor to formulate and implement a procedure for repatriation of workers from government funds in the case of workers whose expenses are not reimbursed by the concerned countries and employers.

The meeting gave the province governments the authority to seal the area or district concerned after assessing the risk of infection. However, the decision to seal should be taken only in coordination with the CCMC.

Similarly, the government has decided to provide Rs 350 million for the construction of isolation and quarantine at the local level. The meeting has decided to provide the amount to the local levels through the province government.

The province government has been given the responsibility of monitoring and facilitation by further improving the quarantines across the country. The province government has also been given the responsibility of managing the isolation center.