Nepal has experienced three waves of migration in the last two centuries: a large-scale enlistment in the British and Indian armies, the mass employment trek to India, and, more recently, a modern-day exodus to find jobs in the Gulf countries.
While the harsh conditions of working under the scorching sun in Arab nations seem to contrast with the experiences of serving as mercenaries during two world wars — upon closer look, these forms of migration share underlying similarities
The history of Nepalese labour migration began between 1814 and 1816, following the Nepal-British-India war. After the conflict ended and the Treaty of Sugauli was signed in 1816, 4650 Nepalese youths were recruited into the British armed forces as part of the British-Gurkha regiment. This marked the first organised instance of Nepalese labour migration and set the foundation for future movements — where Nepalese men were drawn abroad for economic opportunities.
Exploitation
Globalisation has been pivotal in reshaping labour migration patterns in recent decades. The rapid expansion of global markets and the demand for low-cost labour in newly industrialising countries opened opportunities for Nepalese workers.
This trend, coinciding with significant political changes in Nepal, ushered in the movement of individuals seeking contract work in foreign countries. The allure of higher wages and better job prospects abroad motivated many to move, leading to a wave of workers heading for the Gulf states.
In the Emirates, migrant workers comprise approximately 95 per cent of the total workforce, with 60 to 70 per cent employed in low-income occupations. The exploitation of Nepalese migrant workers in these regions has been the subject of severe human rights violations, having garnered international attention.
Reports indicated for years that,
Nepalese migrants were dying at an alarming rate, especially in construction work, with one death every two days. Human rights organisations have accused Qatar and other Gulf states of concealing the true causes of these deaths by attributing them to vague terms such as ‘natural causes’ or ‘cardiac arrest’.
Social Cause
GlMigrant workers in the Gulf states often undertake so-called ‘3D jobs’ — dirty, dangerous, and difficult —that leave them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
Narad Nath Bharadwaj, Nepal’s former ambassador to Qatar, has been a vocal advocate for increased labour inspections. “Whenever I meet with Qatari officials, I tell them that the number of labour inspectors should be increased,” said Bharadwaj when Qatar built stadiums for the World Cup tournament 2022.
“Qatar’s Labor Minister would always tell me: ‘We will improve, we will do this, we will do that’. The truth is that it improved just a little bit, thanks to the upcoming World Cup”. After the tournament, Qatar would no longer talk about curbing employers’ malpractices.
Back home, workers’ families bear most of the social costs of labour migration. Rajan Prasad Shrestha, the Foreign Employment Board’s Executive Director, has highlighted the challenges posed by the Gulf’s ‘commodification of labour’, where workers are treated as disposables rather than human beings with rights and dignity.
Shrestha describes,
labour migration as a ‘necessary evil,’ reflecting the complex and often tragic reality many Nepalese families face, depending on remittances from abroad. Remittances have become a lifeline for Nepal and are estimated to be worth US $11 billion in 2023, accounting for 26.6 % of the country’s GDP.
Little recourse for justice or compensation
In response to these challenges, the Nepalese government enacted the Foreign Employment Act (FEA) to protect Nepalese migrant workers. However, its effectiveness has been hampered by weak implementation, poor governance, and ongoing political instability in Nepal. The lack of adequate oversight and enforcement mechanisms has left many migrant workers exposed to dangerous conditions and with little recourse for justice or compensation.
Despite international human rights and labour laws designed to protect migrant workers — the reality for Nepalese migrants in the Gulf area has not changed much for the better. Many Gulf states – mind you, like Nepal! – have not signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of All Migrants and Their Families, leaving migrant workers vulnerable to exploitation.
While traditional destinations like the Gulf and Malaysia continue to host many Nepalese workers, global migration patterns are beginning to shift. Countries like Kuwait have seen a surge in Nepalese migrant workers in recent years. Others now opt for European Union nations such as Poland, Romania, Portugal, Malta, Hungary, and Croatia. Still others sought economic gains by joining the Russian army at the Ukrainian frontier.
The migration labour shift is driven by several factors, including the rising standards for migrant labour in traditional destinations, where employers increasingly seek skilled workers. As a result, semi-skilled and unskilled workers find it more challenging to secure employment in these regions and seek alternatives in Europe.
Until now, some European countries have responded to this demand by relaxing their immigration regulations, making it easier for foreign workers to obtain visas, particularly in agriculture, housekeeping, hospitality, and construction. The perceived benefits of working in Europe, including more freedom and a lower risk of labour exploitation, made these countries priority destinations for Nepalese migrants. Other countries, on the contrary, are implementing far stricter policies. Thus, recent political shifts in Europe may hinder this development.
Sad reality
The Nepali government’s attempts to protect migrant workers have been criticised for being overly broad and imprudent. For instance, the bans on female labour migration for domestic work have not addressed the underlying issues and have, in some cases, worsened the vulnerability of women seeking employment abroad. The government’s approach to labour migration has often been reactive rather than proactive, resulting in policies that fail to provide adequate protection or support for migrant workers.
The plight of migrant workers in the Gulf has led to a global labour migration reset. However, the sad reality is that many Nepalese migrants today earn enough to educate their children but not enough to secure a comfortable retirement, leaving them in a precarious position.
The decades-long exploitation and oppression in the Gulf might have opened fair labour opportunities for Nepali migrant workers elsewhere. The government now needs to work toward reasonable human labour rights in all the places where Nepalis support themselves, the local economy of their new home, and the people and country they had to leave to seek fortune.
