Kathmandu, Dec. 20 -- The government has scrapped the new standards related to medical testing and fees for Nepali migrant workers. Labour, Employment and Social Security Minister Rajendra Singh Bhandari revoked the standards through a ministerial decision on Friday.

The Labour Ministry, on November 16, expanded the scope of medical examinations to include 34 types of tests and set a new fee of Rs9,500. The ministry had claimed that the decision was taken with the stated objective of ensuring quality health assessments for workers going abroad. Minister Bhandari said the new standards were scrapped following directives from Prime Minister Sushila Karki.

Ministry spokesperson Pitambar Ghimire said that the prime minister instructed the m...