KATHMANDU, July 16: The government will bear all expenses for rescuing Nepali nationals stranded in foreign countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As per the "Work procedure prepared to bring back stranded citizens 2077" approved by the Council of Ministers on Monday, those Nepali nationals who are stuck abroad due to coronavirus will be brought back home at the government's expense.
"The government will use the foreign employment welfare fund to bring back home Nepali nationals stranded in foreign countries due to coronavirus and other various reasons," Yuba Raj Khatiwada, the government spokesperson said.
The government made the decision a month after the Supreme Court issued an interim order to the government to use the foreign employment welfare fund to bring back Nepali migrant workers left stranded in foreign countries in highly vulnerable conditions.
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The cabinet meeting also decided to allow the representatives and staffers of multinational companies and their families who have made investment in Nepal to return to the country.
Likewise, the foreign representatives of international non-government organizations (INGOs) based in Nepal and foreign technicians involved in the maintenance of huge development projects will also be allowed to come back to Nepal upon the recommendation of the Ministry of Health and Population by following the health protocols.
"The government has also decided to exempt fees on the renewal of the electronic media keeping in mind that the media sector has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic," Khatiwada said.
