Though there is no exact data on the number of workers stranded in Kathmandu, officials estimate that around 6,000 workers are awaiting their turn to fly to their destination countries.
Nabin BK from Kuine Mangale of Myagdi is one among the thousands of workers stranded in Kathmandu. “I had come to the capital with only limited money for my travel expenses. However, flight cancellation has left me in a difficult situation. I borrowed a few thousand rupees from a friend promising to return him the money once I start earning in Malaysia,” BK told Republica.
Nabin was supposed to board a plane to Malaysia on Thursday.
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“Neither the recruiting firm nor the airline company (Air Asia) has bothered to bear our expenses. I have been told that I will be able to board a plane today. If the plane does not arrive even today, I will have to stay hungry as I don’t have any money left,” he added.
While some of the workers managed to fly on Sunday with flights resuming from Saturday night, a majority of the foreign-bound workers still remain stranded.
“Thousands of aspiring workers are stranded in Kathmandu with limited amount of money. The recruiting firms are covering their food and accommodation expenses,” Gyan Prasad Gaire, acting president of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA) -- the umbrella organization of around 760 recruiting firms -- said.
“Recruiting firms are under financial pressure and we want the Foreign Employment Promotion Board (FEPB) to share a part of the burden,” Gaire added.
However, FEPB officials said they lack budget for the purpose. They also said that the recruiting firms and airline companies must take the responsibility of passengers. “We do not have budget for such expenses. Either the recruiting firm or the airline company must take the responsibility of passengers,” Tika Prasad Bhandari, director at FEPB, told Republica.
