The Nepali embassy in Kuwait has decided to stop running its shelter, the housing facility being provided to Nepali domestic workers who face problems. The decision came after the Kuwaiti government established ‘Expatriate Lodging Centre’ targeting such workers.

According to a press release issued by the embassy on Monday, 54 Nepali female domestic workers who had been housed in the shelter have been sent to the Kuwait lodging centre. The shelter operated by the embassy had the capacity to provide housing facilities for more than 300 domestic workers who would reach out to the embassy seeking help to return to Nepal or get their problems solved.

The number of workers in the shelter had declined significantly from last year after the government imposed a ban on sending females for domestic help in Kuwait.

Similarly, the embassy had also sent many workers back home in Nepal. In May last year, the government had imposed a ban in supplying female workers for domestic help in Gulf countries after the rise in cases of their abuse

The embassy has stated that from now on, Nepali domestic workers seeking support to get repatriated or solve their problems will be sent to the centre and workers repatriation activities will continue as usual in coordination with concerned Kuwaiti authorities.

The 54 workers had been transferred to the women-only Kuwaiti centre after assurance of good accommodation, food and medical treatment services to the workers and speedy procedure for repatriation, according to the release.

Countries including India, Sri Lanka and Philippines have also transferred their female domestic workers to the centre.

Published on: 8 April 2015 | The Himalayan Times