Trafficking in workers

Trafficking in laborers is a phenomenon that is growing dangerously. This phenomenon cheats the already unfortunate ones who are forced to leave the country in search of a better life, sometimes in search of basic survival, and it also puts their lives at risk. Remember the 12 Nepalis who were illegally trafficked to Iraq and subsequently executed by an Islamic militant group? The stories of Nepalis stranded at Delhi airport or in Dubai, or of innocent Nepalis landing in foreign jails are increasingly becoming a regular feature. And organized racketeers are involved in the inhuman crime of trafficking such workers.



The racketeers lure them with new and attractive destinations. Nepal´s ambassador to Russia, Surya Kiran Gurung, claimed the other day that Moscow was increasingly becoming a transit route for trafficking laborers to Easter Europe and nearby countries. He also disclosed the case of a Ukraine-based fraudulent company, Europainvest Ltd, that recently advertised for 250 workers. It´s not known whether the company and its Nepali agent actually sent any Nepali laborers abroad. But the Nepali agent has been identified as Swastik Overseas and the ministry concerned should immediately launch an inquiry to find out if there was any collusion.



Agreed, it´s too early to point any finger at Swastik, but it is hard to believe that it was completely ignorant about the fraudulent nature of the Ukrainian company. Moreover, it is Swastik´s duty to do a background check and make sure that poor Nepalis are not exploited and cheated. Even if it didn´t knowingly engage in any wrongdoing one thing is beyond debate: It did not fulfill its duties. There are also two other Nepali companies that have applied to export laborers to Romania and Poland. Rajdhani International and Pioneer Overseas have applied at the Ministry of Labor and Transport Management to export 104 and 200 laborers to Romania and Poland respectively. It appears too good to be true that Poland and Romaina, two of the East European countries severely hit by the global financial crisis, actually want to import laborers from Nepal. The Nepali manpower companies should do a thorough background check of foreign companies placing demands for laborers so that innocent Nepalis do not land in trouble.



As cases of fraudulent demand for laborers being cheated are on the rise, the government should step up its regulatory and monitoring work. Nepali missions abroad should be mobilized to look into these issues rigorously. We cannot ignore the plight of Nepalis working abroad. These aspirant workers, who are basically keeping the Nepali economy afloat and saving the state from collapsing, surely deserve better.

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