Disagreement between Lebanon and Nepal on MWDW recruitment

The Lebanese labor minister said in a statement that as of the end of last week, all the working permits for Nepalese migrant women domestic workers (MWDW) have been suspended. The ministry clarified the reasons for the sudden decision by saying that it received direct calls and letters from the Nepalese embassy in Cairo advising that it will sponsor the arrival into Lebanon of its nationals wishing to work there, while stressing that the said consulate has no official representative status with the Lebanese government. The statement went on to say, that the Nepalese consul in the Egyptian capital has imposed an equivalent of $1000 on every Lebanese citizen willing to bring in a Nepalese MWDW (apart from the $1000 deposited as insurance on part of the employer at the Housing Bank of Lebanon) and $10 thousand for each recruiting agency willing to use Nepalese workers. The Lebanese labor ministry considered that the said conditions or practices are in clear violation of diplomatic relations as they enforce illicit fees on both the MWDWs and the Lebanese employers or recruitment agents. The statement announced that it will halt issuing new working permits pending a solution of the problem, while noting that this measure does not apply to renewal of permits for Nepalese MWDWs currently working and residing in the country. (An Nahar, August 20, 2016)