After reports about embezzlement of the fund by Labor Minister Mohammad Aftab Alam, the PMO had sought details from FEPB in the third week of June about the sources of the fund and justification for the expenditures.[break]
Immediately after FEPB supplied details to the PMO on June 24, the National Vigilance Center also began investigation into the case.
The center had submitted its reports to the PMO recently categorically indicating that FEPB violated its mandate and misused its authority while spending from the fund.
"After going through the report, we have asked the prime minister to forward the case to the CIAA -- the constitutional anti-graft body -- as we found different cases in which the FEPB had not only violated existing financial regulations but also overstepped its mandate in running the fund. It is as good as corruption," a high level source at the PMO told Republca on Tuesday.
The source said that FEPB has been handling the fund by formulating financial guidelines on its own in violation of the existing Foreign Employment Act and Regulations, which say FEPB can only formulate "meeting operational guidelines" for its functioning.
The report says FEPB had awarded advertisement contract worth Rs 1.6 million without calling tender bid. The Financial Regulations says bidding is a must for expenditure exceeding Rs 150,000.
"Money from the fund was found used for the maintenance of vehicles used by Minister Alam and labor secretary, and for procuring furniture in violation of the spirit of the fund, which is meant entirely for the promotion of foreign employment and welfare of Nepali workers overseas," the source added.
The government had set up the fund two years back to provide relief to Nepali workers overseas, to pay compensation to families of those deceased in foreign countries, to promote overseas job opportunities and create awareness about foreign employment issues.
The source said the FEPB has spent over Rs 830,000 from the fund for furnishing Minister Alam´s official chamber and for fuel and maintenance for his vehicles.
The FEPB spent Rs 250,000 for furnishing, Rs 291,000 for fuel and Rs 286,000 for vehicle maintenance at the behest of Minister Alam.
The fund was also misused for undertaking ´meaningless´ foreign trips purportedly for exploring labor markets for Nepali workers.
Over the last two years, different trips were made to half a dozen countries including Israel, Japan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates participated by minister Alam, senior officials from the National Planning Commission, the MoLTM, FEPB.
Since the establishment of the fund in July 2008, around Rs 580 million has been collected in the fund through contributions made by overseas job seekers, interest from the money deposited by manpower agencies, and manpower registration and renewal fees.
Each foreign job seeker contributes Rs 1,000 to the fund.
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