An estimated 400 to 500 migrant workers are flying to Gulf countries on a daily basis from Indian airports in order to avoid unnecessary hassles at the Nepali airport.

A major reason for this choice is the fact that many of the destination countries do not have embassies in Nepal, while flying costs, legal hassles and the lack of a proper monitoring mechanism are other reasons why Nepalis are travelling overland to India.

“It is mostly people working in India and those living near the Indian border who are travelling through Indian airports. As we do not have the embassies of any of the destination countries, except Malaysia, workers find it easier to obtain visas and leave from India,” said Kumud Khanal, general secretary of the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA).

While many workers travelling via India have accreditation from government authorities, many others are smuggled in on visit visas or with false contract papers. A significant portion of workers also go through Indian agencies as they offer cheaper rates for countries like Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

“Additionally, those possessing individual visas, visit visas or those going for re-service choose the Indian route,” said Khanal.

Manpower companies said that both men and women are taking this route, but women are at a greater risk of travelling through India due to the government’s recent decision to impose an age bar on women migrating to the Gulf for domestic work. As per the new rule, a woman has to be at least 30 years to be eligible for a domestic visa.

According to Khanal, this trend has not only affected the economy but is also inviting long-term consequences as undocumented migrant workers face high risks of exploitation abroad.

Ram Kaji Koney, former president of the Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA), said that most of the workers are leaving through the Delhi and Lucknow airports. Koney claimed that around 100 to 150 Nepali workers fly to third countries through Lucknow and Delhi alone.

However, he is of the opinion that the number of people leaving through Indian airports is not as high as the manpower companies claim.

“Workers need to go through tight scrutiny at the Delhi airport but not so at the Lucknow airport. Carriers like Air India and Jet Airlines ask for documents while boarding the plane but other airlines like Oman Air and Fly Dubai do not consider anything,” said Koney. “The oversight of the government has caused a great loss of revenue and exposed the workers to further risks,” he added.

Director of the Department of Foreign Employment Lal Babu Kawari admitted that the problem is serious but said his department could not take any action on the matter. He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the respective embassies should monitor such malpractices, in collaboration with Indian Immigration.

“We have written to the embassies to not let workers travel without an approval letter from the department. That is all we can do,’ said Kawari.

Government statistics show that around 600 migrant workers leave for the Gulf every day via the Tribhuvan International Airport.

Published on: 12 September 2012 | The Kathmandu Post