ROSHAN SEDHAI

Nepal has asked Qatar to make it binding for employers to bear the commission paid to the recruiting agencies and agents in order to ensure cost-free hiring of Nepalis to work in the oil-rich Gulf state.

In a meeting with a high-level delegation led by Abdullah Saleh Mubarak Al-Khulaifi, labour and social welfare minister of Qatar, the Nepali side said that arranging for the cost charged by recruiting agents could realise the zero-recruitment cost idea for migrants.

The delegation is on a four-day visit at the invitation of State Minister for Labour Tek Bahadur Gurung.

Nepali migrant workers are forced to pay between Rs20,000 and Rs80,000 despite Qatar’s pledge to make recruitment cost-free for immigrants. Nepal allows foreign employment agents to take up to Rs20,000 in fees, but many recruiting agencies charge gullible job-seekers even for free visa and tickets.

Experts say workers will be compelled to pay exorbitant fees until the government comes up with strong monitoring and punishment for firms fleecing outbound workers.

State Minister Gurung said several other “pressing issues” such as providing 24-hour insurance to workers, compulsory orientation before taking jobs and strengthening workplace safety and security of workers were discussed.

“Qatar’s insurance policy covers only work-related and road accidents. We have asked them to provide 24-hour insurance cover throughout the contract period,” Gurung told the Post. Senior officials attending the meeting said the Qatari delegation was positive about addressing most of the demands.

“They have vowed to convey our message to the policymakers in Qatar. Honourable minister has pledged to address most of the issues in the proposed labour law,” said a senior official at the Labour Ministry. No agreement was signed on Sunday.

Nepali migrants’ safety and security in Qatar and other Gulf states has emerged as the most pertinent issue in recent years with some rights groups likening their situation to “modern-day slavery”.

The Foreign Employment Promotion Board issued reimbursement to families of 205 migrant workers dying in Qatar in 2013/14, 110 in 2012/13 and 130 in 2011/12. The number of victims will be higher as the figures include only the workers whose families have sought reimbursement from the Migrant Workers’ Welfare Fund.

Nearly 70 percent families of deceased migrant workers have not got proper compensation from the employer as the Qatari law does not cover insurance for workers dying of “natural cause”, cardiac arrest or suicide.

The Qatari minister also paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey. The meeting focused on issues including problems faced by Nepali workers in Qatar. Pandey urged the delegation to ensure labour rights and welfare of migrant workers.

“We are working on new labour laws that address most of the challenges facing migrant workers,” Pandey quoted Minister Al-Khulaifi as saying.

Qatar is the second largest work destination for Nepalis after Malaysia. In fiscal year 2070/71 (BS), 128,874 Nepalis had taken permits to work in Qatar, up from 90,935 in 2069/70.

Major agendas of the meeting

- Zero recruitment cost for migrant workers

- Employers to bear commission paid to recruiting agencies

- Strengthening safety and security of migrant workers

- 24-hour life and health insurance

- Orientation before joining job

-Job safety and security

- Depositing salary of workers through banking channel

- Hiring skilled workers

Fiscal year (BS)    No of departures    No of deaths

2070/71    128874    205

2069/70    90935    110

2068/69    105681    130

20 67/68    102966    125

2066/67    55940    114

Published on: 6 April 2015 | The Kathmandu Post