Call to raise relief for kin of workers who die abroad

KATHMANDU, July 19: The Foreign Employment Promotion Board (FEPB) has recommended to the government to raise the compensation amount offerred to the next of kin of laborers who die abroad to Rs 150,000 from the existing Rs 100,000. [break]



A meeting of the board last week forwarded the suggestion to the Ministry of Labor and Transport Management to take initiative to amend the existing Foreign Employment Regulations that provision Rs 100,000 compensation to the families of each worked dead in foreign land from the Foreign Employment Welfare Fund.



"Keeping in view with the contribution of migrant workers in the country´s economy, increasing inflation as well as the levy from workers which has been doubled in the last few months, the existing compensation is insufficient," said Sthaneshwore Devkota, executive director of the board, said on Sunday.



The government had instituted the fund on February 20, 2008, making it mandatory for the outbound overseas workers to contribute Rs 500 each, which has been increased to Rs 1,000 from April 14 this year, to the fund. About Rs 200 million has been collected in the fund so far. Family members of those workers who die in overseas workplaces are being provided with Rs 100,000 each from the fund.



The board has provided the relief to the families of 87 victims so far. The fund is aimed at providing compensation to those who lose lives in foreign land, as well as to assist in bringing their bodies back home, among other welfare works for the benefits workers.



Devkota also said that the meeting also recommended amending a provision that has designated the board to make shelter houses for those women who return from abroad jobs after suffering from different forms of abuses. The meeting has recommended adding in the provision that safe houses can be opened in Nepal to shelter the victimized women, Devkota added. Temporary shelters have already been set up in Nepali embassies in key labor destinations including Malaysia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.



Relief for ship tragedy victims´ kin



The Ministry of Labor and Transport Management has directed the Foreign Employment Promotion Board to provide compensation of Rs 100,000 each to families of the twelve people killed in a ship mishap off the coast of Doha on June 30.



Of the 12 victims, two had used illegal channels to get to Doha for jobs, Devkota said.

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