CAIRO: The Saudi Arabia government has threatened to end the hiring of Nepalese migrant workers to the country, if Nepal will not provide safe access to housemaids stopped in India. India stopped about 3,000 Nepali women illegally flying to the Gulf country last week upon the request of Nepal government. Flying from foreign airports for overseas job without getting foreign employment permit is illegal, according to the Foreign Employment Act 2007 that states, “Nepalese migrant workers must use Nepalese airport to go for foreign job.” Saudi Arabia's embassy in New Delhi has written to the foreign ministry urging it to stop recruiting Nepalese workers, said Nepalese envoy in Udaya Raj Pandey. “We have shown immediate reaction and explained the ministry about real situation,” he said, adding that Indian immigration has stopped about 3,000 Nepalese women in New Delhi and Mumbai as they did not have foreign employment permit from Nepal government for Saudi Arabian job. The Department of Foreign Employment issues permits to Nepalese migrant workers. The department has issued strict regulations for female migrant workers, including stating that “women must have training on house keeping, employer should deposit Saudi Riyal 10,000 to hire housemaid, guarantee regular salary and provide frequent communication with families.” “A nexus of outsourcing agencies, agents of Nepal and India are involved in illegal and unsafe routes to avoid the criterion,” he said. About 60-70 Nepalese migrant women workers use the route via Indian cities — New Delhi and Mumbai — to go Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia on a daily basis. Most of the Nepalese women working in Saudi Arabia are domestic workers and are not covered by labor laws, The Himalayan Times reported. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has criticized Saudi Arabia, saying the country is promoting “modern day slavery.” The report released by the umbrella organization of trade unions across the globe said that “Saudi Arabia is violating all core labor standards.” It revealed that there is open discrimination against women, especially in their earnings. “Women earn 84 percent less than men in similar roles,” it said, adding that abuse, exploitation and sexual harassment are “rampant.” The Nepal embassy in Saudi Arabia has reportedly rescued 174 women migrant workers suffering from such exploitation in the past 6 months. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/ByV9c Tags: Domesitc Workers, Migrants, Nepal Section: Latest News, Saudi Arabia, South Asia, Women
