The Nepali embassy in Kuwait has urged Nepali migrant workers to travel with valid travelling or residence permits as the destination has intensified raids against illegal workers. The Nepali embassy has been issuing alerts on the new development, said Nepali ambassador to Kuwait Madhuban Paudel. 

Kuwait — a job market that employs about 80,000 Nepalis including 60,000 housemaids — started a campaign against illegal workers from late last month. It arrested about 400 illegal workers in May which included Nepali workers too. The country has not published further developments in the last two weeks. 

“The Nepali embassy has urged migrants to travel with civil identity cards, passports and job contracts to avoid being arrested,” said Paudel. Similarly, the embassy has also urged workers to refrain from 

giving lifts to others, not to use VoIP applications in mobile phones, and to stop drinking while outside their residence. 

Kuwait is the most preferred destination in the Gulf region among Nepali women. About 40,000 Nepali women are believed to be working in the destination but official data shows that only 26,175 have reached the job destination since 2007-08. Other women have reached Kuwait via India through unauthorised agents. 

The embassy has urged Nepali migrant workers to report such cases to the embassy. Migrant workers must carry all documents — passport with valid visa, job contract and civil card — at all times. It will reduce the chances of being arrested, said Paudel.

Published on: 21 June 2013 | The Himalayan Times