Dharma Kumari of Morang district had beautiful dreams in her eyes before flying to Kuwait for employment. She thought she would do hard work and earn enough to buy a cozy home back in Nepal. Similar was the dream of Hari Maya and Krishna Kumari of Thokshali, Udaypur district. The ambition landed them in Kakarbhitta, Jhapa in late December. There was a long way to go. However, their dreams shattered even before they could start journey from Kakarbhitta.

 

At the eastern border, all the three came under the scrutiny of Maiti Nepal, an organization working against human trafficking. Police in the border asked them to show all the documents needed for foreign employment, which they could not produce. After investigation, the women were handed over to their family members. These women claimed that they had all the necessary documents and added these were with their agents.

 

According to Maiti Nepal, that’s a common case which has been ruining life of growing number of foreign job seekers. Aspirant workers going to Kuwait and Israel, among other countries, are lost either midway or are sold by agents due to the lack of awareness or blind faith in foreign employment agents, a Maiti Nepal official in Kakadbhitta shared.

 

Last week, Maiti Nepal had held another two women who were ready to fly to Israel.They were stopped as they did not have passport, citizenship and other documents needed for the journey and stay in Israel. As per the data of the organization, 32 women on their way to gulf countries have been returned from eastern border during the last alone. They lacked documents that could verify their status as foreign employee in their destination nation. Foreign employment agents keep documents of such candidates with them so that they charge them hefty amount in fees during the process, informed Maiti Nepal. 

 

“If we ask for documents, they don’t give us,” said Harimaya. “They say they are processing for our job,” she added. Dismayed at the police intervention, Harimaya stated that ‘being innocent is crime’. “Now we are in trouble but the agents are no more in contact. They have already taken huge sum from us,” she added.  

In lack of evidence of transaction with agents, candidates later cannot claim their amounts. According to Govinda Ghimire, regional coordinator of Maiti Nepal, women are easily lured by agents and fall in their trap. “Most of the women going to gulf countries are sent without proper documents that verify their identity and status. Many of such women have been rescued,” he said adding that booking the agents is however very challenging. “Agents use India as a transit to send women to gulf nations,” as it is relatively easier to get through into India. “Over 70 percent of women trying to reach gulf for employment through India are found to have never met their employment agents personally and 80 to 95 percent of women rescued by us didn’t have identification and employment documents with them,” Ghimire informed.  He said that only few women make it to gulf nations for employment, while the huge majority of them end up in Indian brothels. 

 

Lack of evidence against the agents involved in such crimes saves the agents, according to Jhapa police. “Such cases are very challenging to solve as there’s no evidence of any transaction recorded between the foreign employment agents and the employment seekers. And in lack of verifiable evidence, the police cannot prosecute the agents on the basis of verbal accuses,” said Thakur Prasad Gyawali, Superintendent of Police, Jhapa.

 

He added that even those who fly directly from Kathmandu Airport do not have necessary documents with them which land the ladies in trouble. Elaborating on the factor that saves agents from legal action, Gyawali pointed to the delay in filing complaints against agents by victims. “By the time complaints come to us, the agents destroy any evidence against them. This makes the case very 

weak and ultimately deprives the victims of justice,” he said. 

He opined that human trafficking could be controlled to some extent if foreign employment seekers become more cautions and seek help of authorities on time. “Until and unless victims are aware, it’s difficult. When they stand against the agents, it’s easier to reach to them and file case,” he said.