The government has failed to set criteria for Nepali housemaids to work in Gulf countries though it has opened the destinations about five months ago.

The government has lifted the ban on housemaids on November 20, following pressure from women rights groups and outsourcing agencies.

Delay in setting criteria for housemaids from Nepali diplomatic mission based in the host countries has blocked legal migration of women ready to work as housemaids in foreign destinations. According to Ministry of Labour and Transport Management, Nepali embassy in Kuwait has set criteria for Nepali housemaids.

For Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (the UAE), the criteria has not been set yet, said a senior officer at the ministry. “There is no report from Saudi Arabia while reports from Qatar and the UAE are insufficient,” he said.

The ministry has been asked to resubmit criteria to Nepali embassies based in Qatar and the UAE, he said.

According to him, Nepali diplomatic missions in Qatar and the UAE have not included provisions of insurance and economic status of employers in their reports.

They have purposed a minimum monthly salary 1,000 (Rs 20,000) and 900 (Rs 18,000) Riyal respectively. The ministry has sought inputs from the diplomatic missions on minimum wages, insurance, economic status of employers, approval of Nepali diplomatic missions for every single demand and safety of housemaids.

The delay is fueling illegal migration of women from 40-60 people per day. Officials of Department of Foreign Employment confirmed the delay saying that they are not issuing work permit to women bound to Gulf countries except Kuwait.

“We are not issuing permit to housemaids for Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Oman and Bahrain,” said director at the department Kashi Ram Marasini.

Gulf countries are major employer of Nepali women when they reached there through illegal channels.

According to an estimate, over 1,40,000 Nepali women are working in Gulf countries but the government has record of only 29,000 women till Chait end.

Nepali housemaids have been subject to extreme exploitation and abuse in destination countries, especially Gulf countries. These countries also account for maximum number of Nepali migrant workers. who are paid in the range of $200 a month.

Published on: 13 May 2011 | The Himalayan Times