The government has distributed compensation to about 2,081 families of migrant workers in the last five years since the Foreign Employment Promotion Board was established in February 2008.

The board has been providing a compensation of Rs 150,000 to families of migrant workers who have lost their lives in foreign destinations.

“We only provide compensation to those who joined foreign jobs after the provision was enacted,” said acting executive director at the board Girija Sharma. “Only those who have contributed to the welfare fund set up by the board are eligible for the compensation.“

According to the Foreign Employment Act 2007, Nepali migrant workers must obtain a foreign work permit from the Department of Foreign Employment, contribute Rs 1,500 to the welfare fund, and use Tribhuwan International Airport while leaving the country for foreign jobs.

The government established the board on February 18, 2008, and the welfare fund was started the very day. The welfare fund has more than Rs one billion collected from migrant workers as outflow has boomed in recent years. Work er migration has almost doubled in the last five years about 204,533 in fiscal year 2008-09 and 384,665 in 2011 12. About 278,025 Nepalis joined foreign jobs in the first six months -between Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August) and Poush (mid-December to mid-January) -of the current fiscal year.

According to the board, families of 703 workers who have lost their lives in Malaysia have received compensation, followed by Saudi Arabia (570), Qatar (480), United Arab Emirates (170), Kuwait (42) and Bahrain (33). Other destinations with a bad history of Nepali workers losing their lives are South Korea, Oman and Lebanon, with 22, 19 and 18 deaths reported, respectively. The board, till date, has compensated about Rs 223.36 million to families of migrant workers who have lost their lives in various countries.

Cardiac arrest is the major cause of deaths of Nepalis in Gulf countries, followed by road accidents and workplace accidents.

However, the board's figures do not represent the actual number of Nepalis who have lost their lives in foreign countries because about one million Nepalis have reached various destinations avoiding the formal recruitment process. Illegal workers are always at high risk as they do not fall under the purview of the labour laws of the destination.

Published on: 4 March 2013 | The Himalayan Times