As its session had resumed a good one and a half months later, the legislative parliament witnessed an unusual rush of business on Thursday.

Seven bills and some reports were presented at the parliament. The parliament also approved the much-awaited Foreign Employment Third Amendment bill.

With the passage of this bill, the government will now be allowed to send workers for foreign employment itself. This provision was crucial to make use of Employment Permit System (EPS) offered by South Korean government. As such, it has opened the legal path for 5000 Nepali workers to go to South Korea for work this year.

Other bills presented at the parliament, on Thursday, include Working Journalists (First Amendment) Bill, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (Second Amendment) Bill, Custom Bill, Civil Code (Twelfth Amendment), A Bill to Amend some Nepal Acts, Special Court (First Amendment), Decoration Bill, Plant Protection Bill, and National Academy for Music and Drama Bill.

At the outset, Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel briefed the parliament about some decisions made by the government including the formation of a commission to probe Madhes incident, decision to ask Electoral Constituency Delineation Commission to review its report, holding of Constituent Assembly elections by Mangsir, and government’s commitment to address demands raised by Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP).

Likewise, the parliament also decided to form a 23-member team led by Speaker Subas Nemwang to construct new parliament building. The committee was formed in response to a proposal tabled by MP Ramnath Adhikari. The current building is said to be congested and old. n