Kathmandu: A hidden syndicate operating for 15 years under the guise of labor approval for Nepali trainee workers bound for Japan has erupted into a national controversy, now being described as more alarming than the visit visa scandal already under parliamentary scrutiny. Though the visit visa issue has prompted a CIAA probe and a high-level government committee, this deeper, longer-running exploitation had remained largely ignored—until now.

At the heart of the controversy is a non-governmental organization (NGO) named JICA Alumni Association Nepal (JAN), which has been conducting unauthorized language tests for workers who have already passed all required procedures, received Japanese government approval, and even secured visas through official channels.

The Origins and Operation of the Syndicate
Since 2067 BS (2011), JAN has monopolized final-stage labor certification by running mandatory language tests—not recognized under Nepali or Japanese law. Workers who already possess a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and visa are still forced to pay NPR 3,300 per exam, and if they fail, their departure is blocked.

This extra layer of screening is allegedly enforced under directives from within the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE), despite no legal basis in the bilateral labor process. The Supreme Court is currently deliberating on a writ petition filed by advocates Khagendra Prasad Chapagain and Uma Poudel, who have requested an interim order to halt this practice.

Legal and Institutional Voices Demand Action
The court has already issued a show cause order and summoned both sides to a hearing on Asar 16. The petition challenges why an unregistered NGO should be given such a crucial role in labor migration, especially when the Japanese government has already approved the candidates.

Nepal Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs Association Acting General Secretary Kunchu Dorje Dimdong stated that his organization had repeatedly complained—both in writing and verbally—to the Ministry of Labor, but their warnings went unheeded. He also alleged retaliation from JAN and the DoFE, where entrepreneurs who raised concerns saw their workers deliberately failed in the exam.

How the Exploitation Happens
Experts explain that Japan-bound trainee workers follow a complex but official path:

-A Nepali and Japanese manpower agency reach a recruitment agreement.

-The Nepali Embassy in Tokyo verifies the labor demand.

-Nepali workers are selected and trained based on advertisements.

-Required documents are submitted to the Japanese Embassy and Immigration Office.

-Upon approval, a COE and visa are issued.

-Workers are then cleared for final labor approval through the VFS process.

However, just before the final stage, the Department of Foreign Employment reroutes the workers to JAN, requiring them to undergo an extra language test that’s not recognized by either government.

JAN’s Defense and Massive Earnings
JAN President Dr. Ramchandra Bhusal claimed the organization is acting under the written orders of the DoFE and has conducted exams since 2011. Bhusal disclosed that over 5,245 workers had been tested, raising NPR 17.96 million by 2024—excluding repeat attempts and 2025 numbers.

He admitted the language certificate has no utility outside the DoFE, and after the Supreme Court’s notice, JAN has temporarily suspended testing pending the verdict.

Department of Foreign Employment’s Confused Response
DoFE Director General Kamal Prasad Bhattarai added to the confusion, admitting that JAN is not legally recognized by Nepali law but refused to comment on internal letters that authorized the tests. He claimed he had just been transferred and would study the issue further.

Wider Industry and Political Fallout
The Nepal Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs Association and other stakeholders have condemned the practice. They argue that it violates bilateral agreements, burdens approved workers with unnecessary delays and financial loss, and risks Nepal’s credibility in the Japanese labor market.

Amid growing outrage, Nepali Congress Central Committee member Ajay Babu Shiwakoti took to social media, calling the practice inhumane and illegal, and labeling the system a “serious syndicate.” He likened the issue to the visit visa scandal, demanding the removal of unauthorized agencies and immediate reform of the foreign employment process.

“When Japan has already granted visas, putting the youth through another paid exam is criminal,” Shiwakoti wrote. “If we can’t respect the labor of our youth, we lose all moral ground to address unemployment in Nepal.”

What's Next?
With legal, institutional, and political momentum building, the Supreme Court's decision could be pivotal in dismantling what many now describe as a state-enabled labor racket. Until then, testing remains suspended, and calls grow louder for parliamentary attention, accountability, and systemic overhaul in Nepal’s foreign employment sector.

This unfolding case has now become a litmus test for transparency, justice, and political will to safeguard the rights of Nepali migrant workers—especially the youth who aspire to work abroad legally, only to be met by exploitation from within.