Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Sushila Karki has discussed the new criteria for employment entrepreneurs in Malaysia. She held a discussion with the officials of the ministries of Labour, Finance, Foreign Affairs and Law in Singha Durbar on Friday.

Stating that the 10-point criteria sent by Malaysia was only a proposal that was not final, it was concluded that the bilateral talks would ensure decent and safe employment to the maximum interest of both Nepali workers and entrepreneurs. Finance Minister Rameshwor Khanal, Law Minister Anil Kumar Sinha, Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal, Labour Secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar and high-ranking officials of various stakeholders were present in the meeting.

Currently, there are about 1200 manpower companies in Nepal and 900 of them are sending workers to Malaysia. Malaysia has set a 10-point standard for manpower companies sending workers from five source countries, including Nepal. Malaysia will not bring workers from manpower companies that do not meet the set criteria. Under the new criteria, only about a dozen big companies will be eligible to send workers to Malaysia. Malaysia has already sent a letter to the government to provide the list of manpower companies meeting the set criteria by November 12.