By Mukunda Gaire

Kathmandu, Nov. 10: The Gulf countries, which constitute the topmost foreign destination of employment for Nepali migrant workers, have started making labor-friendly rules by revoking mandatory rules imposed on migrant workers.

Qatar and Saudi Arabia have done with the binding rules to make it easier for workers while other countries are on the process to gradually change their old rules.

Two months ago, Qatar decided to remove the mandatory requirement for migrant workers to get the permission from their incumbent employer or employing companies when they wanted to change companies for employment, which Saudi Arabia also followed and removed the same binding law.

The Saudi Arabian government has begun making rules to allow migrant workers to return home when needed.

Saudi Arabia is going to make such an arrangement by amending the labor law with effect from March 14, 2021.

It has been stated that after the expiration of the contract period with effect from March 14, arrangements will be made for foreign workers to return home without the permission of the employer and even to change the employer.

Earlier, the Saudi government said it had decided to remove the Kafala system which applied to domestic help who worked like bonded labourers.

The new labor law requires migrant workers to inform employers electronically when they return home.

Previously, it was mandatory to have the permission of employer while returning home country from Saudi Arabia.

Likewise, Qatar government has increased the salary of Nepali as well as other foreign migrant workers.

Qatar has set the minimum monthly salary of 1,000 Qatari Riyals, or 32,000 Nepali rupees as per present exchange rate.

In addition, a total of 500 riyals has been marked for accommodation for workers and 300 for food. Thus a worker gets a minimum of 1,800 Qatari Riyal a month.

However, if company provides food and shelter, then, 1,000 riyals can be given to the employees.

Similarly, this basic salary amount is also applicable to domestic workers as well.

Qatar's administration will implement the rule after six months after its publication in the royal Gazette, said The Ministry of Development, Labor and Social Affairs, two months ago.

The new rules are welcome for Nepali workers as per the provisions brought by the Gulf countries, said Dr. Ganesh Gurung, a foreign employment expert.

Dr. Gurung viewed,  “The salary of the foreign migrant workers might have increased as Qatar prepares to host the 2022 World Cup and foreign workers are needed to complete construction work on time.”

Dr. Gurung said that Qatar was forced to raise salaries because human rights groups had taken a hard stance at the rights and interests of workers there, and, also because of the fear and pressure that no untoward message went around the world about migrant workers in Qatar.

The rule that one worker can go directly to work in another company is good and now the obligation to work in the same company has been removed, he said.

Currently, there are more than four lakh Nepali workers working in Qatar.

Of total number of employment in Qatar, migrant workers are said to occupy 85 per cent while the local occupy only about 15 per cent.

Similarly, it is said that more than 350,000 Nepali workers are working in Saudi Arabia.

Reports say that about 1.5 million Nepalis are working in the Middle East or West Asia.

Published on: 10 November 2020 | The Rising Nepal