KATHMANDU: Minister for Youth, Labour, and Employment, Ramjee Yadav, has requested the Government of Saudi Arabia to immediately suspend its newly introduced Skill Verification Program (SVP) for Nepali migrant workers to prevent disruption in the visa issuance process.

The request was made during a courtesy meeting held at the Ministry between Minister Yadav, the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Nepal, Fahd bin Mohammed bin Mnikhr and First Secretary Abdulrahman Khalid, where the two sides discussed bilateral interests and labor relations.

During the discussions, Minister Yadav expressed serious concern over the growing confusion surrounding the SVP implementation, which has left numerous Saudi-bound Nepali workers in limbo.

He strongly urged the Saudi diplomats to ensure that the ongoing visa processing remains unaffected and moves forward smoothly, preventing any obstacles to the workers’ employment opportunities.

Emphasizing a collaborative approach, Minister Yadav stressed that all technical and procedural matters concerning the Skill Verification Program should be resolved through established bilateral mechanisms based on mutual consultation and agreement.

In response, the Saudi Ambassador assured the Minister that he would provide further updates on the matter after consulting with the Saudi government.