Roshan Sedhai

Nepalis working in high security zones in Afghanistan have started returning home following preparations by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) allies to withdraw troops from the war-ravaged country by the end of 2014.

Workers in security camps said their companies had started relieving their colleagues of their jobs and preparing to gradually send back the workers to their countries.

"Companies have already started sending back workers. Seven Nepali workers have already returned home from where I am working," Ram Giri, who is employed by Dyn Corps International, an American company in Afghanistan, told the Post over the telephone. "They have begun to release those working in low priority sectors. While some workers are likely to be relieved of their duties soon, others might continue working for some time, depending on the department they work for," he said.

Since a majority of the Nepali workers enter Afghanistan through informal routes, neither the government nor foreign employment agencies have exact records. Workers claim that at least 30,000 Nepalis are currently employed in various security camps in Afghanistan. Most of them are employed as cooks, cleaners, gardeners, drivers, billeting officers and other non-combat jobs. The workers are first airlifted to Dubai and then brought back to Nepal by human smugglers, who charge exorbitant rates for their return, said workers.

Workers expressed sadness at their dismissal, saying they will not be able to find such jobs again. "Although it's a war zone, we work inside heavily protected camps and the salary is very good," said a Nepali working for the Etco Company. He claimed to have saved at least Rs 200,000 a month. According to him, Nepalis earn as much as Rs 1 million a month.

Unlike the workers, representatives of manpower agencies claimed that Nepalis will continue to get work in Afghanistan because of the investment made in the reconstruction of the country. "Many people are still entering Afghanistan every day. Since they are paid higher salaries due to the security risk, many others will still go in the coming days," said Bal Bahadur Tamang, chairman of the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies. However, he criticised the government for its partial ban and restrictions on employment agencies from sending workers to Afghanistan. "By this, the government is promoting smuggling of these workers," he said. An official at the Ministry of Labour and Employment said they have been working to find if countries like Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya are safe to be re-opened to the labour market. On Tuesday, various MoLE officials, including Minister Post Bahadur Bogati, discussed the possibility of lifting the ban. Sources said the smuggling of thousands of workers despite the ban had compelled the government to discuss lifting the ban.

In February this year, US President Barack Obama announced the withdrawal of roughly half of the 66,000 US troops by early next year.

Nepalis, who make their way to Afghanistan through illegal routes, mostly work for American companies. Despite potential security threats, Afghanistan has been one of the most sought-after labour destinations, given the lucrative salaries in security camps, foreign missions and various commissions.

Published on: 7 March 2013 | The Kathmandu Post