4,035 Nepalese migrant workers died abroad in just 3 years

KATHMANDU: According to data from the Foreign Employment Board, 4,035 Nepalese migrant workers died while working abroad between the fiscal years 2077/78 and 2079/80.

In the same period, 870 workers suffered from injuries or illnesses.

Analyzing the death rates over the past three years reveals a 5% increase in worker fatalities from 2077/78 to 2078/79, followed by a 1% decrease from 2078/79 to 2079/80.

However, the rate of injuries and illnesses among workers has surged significantly. In 2077/78, the rate was 18.50%, which increased to 31.95% in 2078/79 and further to 49.54% in 2079/80.

Despite the slight decrease in death rates, the rising incidence of injuries and illnesses is a concerning trend, as highlighted in the annual report by the Auditor General.

The causes of these deaths, injuries, and illnesses among Nepalese migrant workers include environmental conditions in the host countries, work pressure, alcohol consumption, conflicts among workers, family stress, lack of knowledge about local laws, technical errors in machinery operation, traffic accidents, workplace accidents, and health issues such as burns, suffocation, and drowning.

In the last fiscal year, of the 1,250 recorded deaths, 27.96% occurred in Malaysia, 26.36% in Saudi Arabia, 17.98% in the United Arab Emirates, 17.23% in Qatar, 6.04% in Kuwait, and 4.43% in other countries. It is concerning that many workers, who undergo medical examinations before departing Nepal, die during their employment abroad.

To address these issues, the report suggests identifying the actual causes of deaths, studying health facilities in countries where workers fall ill, implementing awareness programs about traffic accidents, and providing mental health support to prevent suicides.

These measures aim to reduce the mortality rate among migrant workers.

When a Nepalese migrant worker dies abroad, the Foreign Employment Board releases funds to repatriate the body for the final rites.

This year, NPR 28.58 million was spent on body management.

However, these funds are only available for legally employed workers, leading to challenges in managing the bodies of those who worked illegally.

The report also highlights the plight of illegal and stranded workers, who are housed in safe shelters and rescued when needed.

Despite their illegal status, the bodies of deceased workers should be managed appropriately.

The report calls for an analysis of the reasons behind illegal migration and recommends proper management of the bodies of deceased workers.

According to Foreign Employment Rules 2064, if a worker dies within the contract period, the next of kin is entitled to NPR 300,000 from the Foreign Employment Fund, which was increased to NPR 700,000 from 16 Shrawan 2074.

Over the past five years, the Foreign Employment Board has disbursed NPR 3.0398 billion to 5,511 deceased workers’ families and NPR 438.472 million to 15 injured or ill workers.