HOM KARKI

Ousted from camps, having to go hungry and denied salary for months, a group of 32 Nepali migrant workers, including a woman, have been taking refuge in the emergency shelter set up by the Nepalese Embassy here.

Almost all the Nepalis used to work for trading and contracting companies in Qatar. The embassy has been providing relief to the victims from funds allocated by the Foreign Employment Promotion Board. Deprived of their salary, the Nepalis had chosen the embassy as their last resort after constant physical abuse at the hands of the employer.

“It has been 35 days since I am in the shelter. I would like to return home as soon as possible,” said Sarjauddin Samat of Rupandehi. “Having to go without food for weeks, the tension becoming unbearable and the fear of our employer barging into our room and torturing us physically left us with no alternative but to seek shelter in the embassy,” said Randa Bahadur Ale of Gorkha.

As most of the workers in question do not have identity cards, their status there is illegal. Two were detained by the police early this month. While the employer claims that he has already submitted 40,000 Riyals to the Qatari agency that issues the identity cards, the victims remain without them.

Ramnath Thakur of Janakpur, who failed to get a ticket for his return trip home, said that although they have waged a legal battle against the company after being denied salary for a year, the verdict is still awaited. In reprisal, the employer has even closed their bank accounts, said Tilak Budha Magar of Rolpa.

Most of those in the shelter had come to Qatar through Skyway Management, Tiger Overseas and Shan International manpower agencies. Working for various construction companies, their average salary ranged from six to eight hundred riyals.  “I came here after shelling out Rs 90,000, while my family back home complains about being unable to get food on credit, I am in a sticky situation,” Samat said. Labour attaché to the Nepalese Embassy Indradev Pandey said they have corresponded with the Search and Follow-Up Department in a bid to send the victims home.

Published on: 12 August 2013 | The Kathmandu Post