Protest held outside Basundhara center
KATHMANDU – Foreign employment recruiters gathered to protest Saudi Arabia's new mandatory skills certification requirement for Nepali workers. The demonstration took place in Kathmandu on Wednesday, according to reports from Asia News Network.
The gathering occurred outside a facility described as a Saudi Arabia-backed skills certification centre located in Basundhara, Kathmandu. Photographs of the event were published by The Kathmandu Post on June 18, 2026.
Allegations regarding rule implementation
Recruiters stated that the requirement was introduced without Nepal's consent. They further claimed the regulation would impose an additional financial burden on migrants seeking employment in Saudi Arabia.
The protest involved demonstrators tearing down a signboard bearing specific text at the Basundhara location, as noted in photo captions from The Kathmandu Post dated June 18, 2026. Recruiters alleged that the rule was introduced unilaterally by Saudi authorities.