Over 800 workers died abroad, 160 suicides

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: More than 800 Nepali migrant workers lost their lives last year while working abroad. Major destinations – Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – has virtually turned into graveyards for young Nepali workers in the 25-42 years age group. According to Nepali diplomatic missions in destination countries, 826 Nepalis died in Malaysia, Gulf countries and Middle-East countries in 2010 while working in the destinations.

The number is around 200 more than that of the previous year. Saudi Arabia, workplace of over 300,000 Nepali migrant workers, claimed more lives than Malaysia and Qatar – the first and second most preferred destinations. The destination witnessed 323 deaths due to work-related hazards, road accidents and frustration among workers.

Likewise, Malaysia claimed 217 lives, followed by Qatar (192), the UAE (84), and Lebanon (10). There is no report of death from war-torn Iraq and Afghanistan due to the absence of Nepali diplomatic missions in the two countries. Around 70,000 Nepalis are working in these destinations.

Though the government claimed to have taken these overseas deaths as a challenge to growing foreign employment market, no action has been taken till date. “It is a serious issue that youths are loosing lives in foreign lands,” said Sthaneshwor Devekota, Executive Director of Foreign Employment Promotion Board (FEPB). The government should try and solve the problems that are leading to such deaths, he said.

However, outsourcing agencies have not taken this as a serious problem. Deaths of a few hundred people are natural, said Som Lal Bataju, president of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA).

We should not forget that there are over three million Nepalis in those destinations, he said. Suicides among Nepali migrant workers have risen at an alarming rate with 160 reported suicide deaths in a year.

As per reports, Saudi Arabia has the highest number of suicides at 100, followed by Malaysia (28), Qatar (20), and the UAE (12).

Though Nepali migrant workers death is rising year-by-year, the number of Nepalis taking compensation from the government is limited.

Only 30-35 per cent workers are getting support from FEPB. Family of around 398 Nepalis who died abroad got compensation of Rs 100,000 last year.

In numbers

Country deaths suicides

• S Arabia 323 100

• Malaysia 217 28

• Qatar 192 20

• UAE 84 12