A high level Qatari delegation wrapped up its four day official visit to Nepal on Tuesday, pledging better safety of Nepali workers.

Nepali side had tabled several demands, including cost-free hiring of workers, 24-hour health care and life insurance and job security before the Qatari delegation.

Qatari Labour and Social Welfare Minister Abdullah Saleh Mubarak Al-Khulaifi expressed commitment to address most of the agendas raised by Nepali side during his meetings with top Nepali officials.

“Our demands were well received by the Qatari side. We have been assured that our issues would be taken up to Qatari prime minister and cabinet,” State Labour Minister Tek Bahadur Gurung told the Post.

“We expect Qatar to take some concrete steps within a few weeks.”

Although Qatari laws prohibit taking recruitment charge from workers, implementation of cost-free hiring topped the agendas of the bilateral discussions.

An employer in Qatar spends  up to 11,000 riyal per single  worker for visa, ticket and service charge to agents, but migrant workers are forced to pay anywhere between  Rs 20,000 to Rs 80,000, owing to poor monitoring and weak law to discourage such anomalies.

“Recruiting agencies in Nepal have been saying that they are charging as they require paying commission to Qatari agents. There is a need of effective monitoring of the middlemen in both labour sending and receiving countries to stop exploitation of workers,” Gurung said.

Officials at the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) said some 400,000 workers could benefit if Qatar addresses the demands put by the Nepal side.

“Qatari minister made it clear that his government is equally committed to improving the safety and security of Nepali workers. It will be a great achievement if those issues were addressed,” MoLE Secretary Bhola Prasad Shiwakoti said.

However, President of General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions Bishu Rimal criticised the Nepali officials for skirting the real issues that need immediate addressal.

He said Nepal’s obsession with cost-free hiring not only shadowed the crucial issues but also gave the impression that the source of all problems lies in labour sending country.

“Workers are compelled to pay because those in powers don’t want to take action against recruiting agencies due to their vested interest,” Rimal said.

Published on: 8 April 2015 | The Kathmandu Post