West Asian tension: 2000 Nepalis lose job opportunities every day

Due to the conflict developed in West Asia, more than two thousand Nepali citizens have lost the opportunity to go abroad for employment every day. In view of the increased instability in the Gulf region, the government had stopped the labor approval. This has a direct impact not only on those who are preparing to get new work visas but also on the workers who have come home on vacation. According to the government's decision, the immigration department has banned air travel for workers who do not have work permits. On the recommendation of the 'Emergency Response Team' chaired by Foreign Secretary Amrit Rai, the Ministry of Labor had banned both new and old labor permits for 12 countries. Taking this decision as a basis, the Foreign Employment Department had stopped labor approval in 12 countries from February 17. From Tuesday, labor permits have been opened again for seven countries including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Oman, Yemen, Jordan and Turkey.

However, approval for new workers remains closed. Similarly, for countries like Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon and Israel, both new and old labor permits are completely closed. According to the data of Foreign Employment Department, 70 thousand 503 new and old people were given labor permits for employment until last January. Out of this, 48 ​​thousand 226 people took approval for 12 countries of West Asia. Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are among the top five destination countries for Nepali workers in the Gulf region. Even some workers with European visas are not able to travel due to disruptions in air services. In response to the US and Israel's attack on Iran on February 16, Iran started attacking American base camps in the Gulf countries, and the atmosphere of insecurity has increased. Along with this development, the department gave work permits to 52,000 new and old people throughout the month of February. As of February 16, only 14,536 people who had received new visas in 10 West Asian countries had been approved, most of whom have not been able to travel. Ujjwal Thapa of Sindhuli, who is preparing to go to the UAE, said that he had already spent around two lakh rupees and the jobs that came to him had disappeared. He was planning to fly after the February 21 election after completing the medical, visa and necessary document procedures.

"I am worried that if I don't go now, all the expenses will sink," he said. According to Vaikunth Paudel, the third vice president of the Foreign Employment Professionals Association, the journey of about 20,500 workers who have received visas has been stopped. This includes 10,000 workers from the UAE, 5,500 from Saudi Arabia and 5,000 from Qatar, whose entire process was completed. According to Paudel, many workers who arrived in Kathmandu to fly have to return home. He said that the future of Nepali workers has become uncertain due to the tension of war in West Asia. He mentioned that 73 workers who arrived in Kathmandu in preparation for going to Bahrain have been sent home with bus fare and it has not been decided when their journey will start. Director General of Foreign Employment Department Meera Acharya has said that with the re-opening of labor permits for seven countries, the way to return home has been opened for Nepali workers who came on leave. However, the renewal of labor for workers in Iran, Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq and Lebanon is currently suspended.

Acharya informed that the airports of these countries are not fully operational and further decisions will be taken after evaluating the situation. He says that the situation is still not favorable for new workers. ** Worker's insecurity and rescue efforts** Nepali workers working in those areas are taking shelter in the camp due to continuous attacks from Iran on the Gulf countries. Some companies have already started repatriating their workers. Iranian drone attacks have occurred on the UAE's Shaha gas field, Fujairah oil port, Saudi Arabia's Ras Tanura, Iraq's Majnoon oil field, Oman's Salalah port, and Qatar's Misaid and Salafan projects. Incidents of Iranian attacks have also taken place at Dubai International Airport, Kuwait International Airport and Erbil International Airport in Iraq, where thousands of Nepali workers are employed. Ram Paswan of Sarlahi, who works at the Kuwait airport, says that he has been living in the camp for the past two weeks. Nepalis who have come to UAE and are on vacation are returning home. The process of coming to Nepal from Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain via Saudi Arabia is going on. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is facilitating the return of workers to Nepal via Saudi Arabia due to insecurity or emergency. Although air flights are not fully regular in most of the Gulf region, they are operating partially from some places.

Fly Dubai and Air Arabia operate a limited number of flights from the UAE. Although flights have resumed at Dubai airport after some disruption, it is becoming very difficult to get tickets due to the limited number of flights. Meanwhile, international human rights organizations have called on governments of destination countries, governments of sending countries, employers and the international community to take immediate action to protect the lives, safety and basic rights of migrant workers. South Asia Director of Equidem, Rameshwar Nepal, said that for the safety of migrant workers, governments of destination countries should strengthen alert systems, provide equal access to safe havens and humanitarian aid to all without discrimination. He stressed that employers should not withhold documents or salaries of workers who want to return home and strict action should be taken against employers who withhold salaries or fire workers in such a crisis.