March 10: The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security has removed a labour desk set up at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). The ministry decided to remove the desk following complaints that the officials deputed to the desk were creating unnecessary hassles for the Nepali migrant workers heading towards foreign countries for employment.

Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Krishna Kumar Shreshta instructed the removal of the desk following complaints from the public. Minister Shrestha argued that the desk was not needed because there is already an online information system in practice.

The labourers were complaining that the desk had been causing unnecessary trouble in the name of verifying the labour permit issued by the ministry itself. Minister Shrestha also expressed his commitment to resolve other problems faced by the migrant workers at the airport.

Earlier, the migrant workers had to enter the airport from a separate entry point set up specifically for the labourers. Now, they can enter the  airport from any entry point.