Migrant workers: 70 families awaiting bodies of kin abroad

KATHMANDU, JAN 21 - 
Nearly 70 bodies of Nepali migrant workers are waiting in various Gulf countries and Malaysia to be repatriated back to Nepal. Most of these countries require exit visa even for a body.

Statistics at the Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) show that 50 bodies are awaiting exit visa from Saudi Arabia, while 20 bodies are lying in Malaysia, the UAE and other countries.

The Saudi Arabia law bars repatriation of corpses without the no-objection certificate from the government while others are awaiting court’s order to that effect, according to Foreign Employment Promotion Board (FEPB).

Sthaneshwor Devokta, the executive director of FEPB, said hurdles in bringing the bodies include anonymity of employers, police cases and court cases faced by the workers before death.

“The legal process to bring a corpse home is complicated and it delays the process,” said Devkota. It is mandatory for respective employers to take ownership of the body before getting the government’s permission for repatriation.

Many migrant workers leave their original employer due to various reasons. This puts them in a legal limbo as labour laws in most of these countries forbid change in employment without permission from the original employer. “Besides bodies of workers who were illegal, corpses of those killed in road accidents face a lengthy legal procedure for repatriation,” said Devkota.

According to MRC, workers’ own faults or ignorance expose them to greater risks. The MRC is responsible for bringing home the body of a migrant worker.

According to officials, it costs around Rs 150,000 to bring a body from Malaysia, Qatar and the UAE, and around Rs 500,000 from Korea.

The latest report of the Department of Foreign Employment shows most deaths occur due to murder, suicide, road accident and workplace accident. 

Stakeholders say amendment to the law governing migrant workers in host countries, proper orientation to workers before their foreign trip and legalisation of illegal migrants can benefit the foreign job seekers.


http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2012/01/21/top-story/migrant-workers-70-families-awaiting-bodies-of-kin-abroad/230658.html

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