All Sectors Eligible · Male & Female

Recruiting foreign workers from Nepal

Nepal remains a primary source country for manufacturing, construction, and services sectors. Recruitment workflows are closely overseen by the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE), allowing deployment of male and female personnel across all approved industrial sectors.

Recruit from Nepal

Active Dispute — Recruitment Restricted to 25 Listed Agencies

Since 22 August 2026, the FWCMS portal restricts recruitment to a strict list of 25 approved Nepali source agencies. This structural framework stems from a 10-point evaluation criteria package distributed by Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in October 2025 to major source nations—requiring a 5-year operating track record, 3,000+ workers deployed in the past 3 years, a dedicated 10,000 sq m office facility, and immaculate compliance audits. Nepal's government has publicly suspended these 25 entities pending diplomatic resolution, citing a lack of prior consultation. Until this bilateral corridor is officially cleared, please verify any agency's real-time operational status directly with us or DoFE Nepal before allocating quotas, as an active FWCMS portal listing does not inherently guarantee source-side clearance.

Sector Eligibility

Where Nepali workers can be placed

Nepal remains one of the primary source countries — both male and female workers are eligible across Manufacturing, Construction, Plantation, Agriculture, and Services.

Manufacturing

Production and technical roles across electronics and FMCG manufacturing sectors.

Construction

General workers and skilled trades for infrastructure, civil, and building projects.

Plantation & Agriculture

Field operations, crop harvesting, and agricultural estate labour roles.

Services

Approved sub-sectors including cleaning, laundry, and hospitality support roles.

Recruitment Framework

How sourcing from Nepal works

DoFE Nepal Coordination

Recruitment workflows are closely monitored by Nepal's Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE).

Zero Recruitment Fees

Strict enforcement of the Employer Pays Principle to eradicate worker-paid placement costs.

Skills Verification

Rigorous trade tests and technical assessments conducted before final allocation.

Pre-Departure Orientation

Mandatory culture, language, and workplace safety briefings completed before deployment.

FAQ

Nepal recruitment FAQ

Can we still recruit through any Nepal-licensed agency?

Not currently. Since 22 August 2026, Malaysia's FWCMS portal restricts recruitment to a list of 25 approved Nepali agencies, down from the previously open field of any DoFE-licensed agency. Nepal's government has disputed the selection process and suspended all 25 listed agencies pending resolution, so verify an agency's actual operating status with us or DoFE Nepal directly before committing — a listing on FWCMS does not by itself confirm current authorisation.

What criteria did Malaysia use to select the 25 agencies?

A 10-point criteria set sent to Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, and India in October 2025: at least 5 years' operating history, 3,000+ workers deployed in the past 3 years, recruitment experience across at least 3 countries, a maintained 10,000 sq m office, valid licences and good-conduct certification, 5 employer testimonials, in-house training and accommodation facilities, and a clean record on forced labour, trafficking, and extortion. Nepal's government has said it cannot accept the criteria as written and has raised the matter through diplomatic channels.

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Recruit Nepali workers the right way

Broadest sector eligibility of any source country, fully documented from day one.

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