At least 726 Nepali migrant workers died in East Asian and Gulf countries last year, a fresh report prepared by the Foreign Employment Promotion Board (FEPB) reveals.

What is more alarming is the fact that despite the government’s efforts to make foreign employment safer, the death toll has seen a 13 percent rise as compared to the previous year when 643 had died in these countries.

According to the report, heart-related ailments are major killers, followed by traffic accidents, suicide, workplace accidents, natural deaths and some deaths due to ‘unidentified causes.’

The actual number, however, could be higher as the report takes into account only legal workers who are entitled to compensation from the Migrant Workers’ Welfare Fund. Government records show that an estimated 2.5 million Nepalis, mostly youths, are working in the Gulf and East Asian countries.

Remittance from the foreign employment sector remains the lifeblood of the country’s economy, with the same contributing a whopping 22 percent to the GDP. However, the sector remains neglected in terms of resource allocation.

Nepal’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia Udaya Raj Pandey attributed most of the deaths in the Gulf to workers’ failure to adapt to the harsh climatic conditions in the countries. “Things get worse when workers do not follow a healthy lifestyle,” he said.

Senior cardiologist Dr. Prakash Raj Regmi, who deals with migrant workers’ health issues, said many Nepali workers have died of heart-related ailments as they are exposed to extreme heat and cold at the same time. “They work at very high temperatures and take rest in a freezing room. This causes a sudden contraction of the heart, leading to blockages in the blood circulation system and ultimately death,” he said. “Food habits, stress and hypertension are other major causes of the deaths.” Embassy officials admit that many Nepalis die of preventable ailments. The risk could be mitigated by drinking enough water, avoiding the use of air conditioners after working in the heat, avoiding liquor and keeping the windows open while sleeping, said ambassador Pandey.

The report shows that the highest number of deaths occurred in Malaysia (253), Nepal’s largest job destination, followed by Saudi Arabia (205), Qatar (151), UAE (47), South Korea (14) and Bahrain (14). A total of 42 others died in ‘other countries.’

Despite claims that there will be reforms in the pre-departure counselling and health check-ups programmes, 70 in Saudi Arabia and 11 in Malaysia died in road accidents last year.

“We know that the orientation and medical check-up systems have been largely misused by manpower companies and agents, orientation centres and some corrupt officials. “However, curbing this trend with the resources at our disposal is a tough job,” Director-General of the Department of Foreign Employment Binod KC said.

The slowdown in growth in other economic sectors has increased Nepal’s dependence on foreign remittance from its workers. The country received Rs 430 billion in remittance in the year 2012. 

Published on: 17 August 2013 | The Kathmandu Post