Nepali Death Toll Abroad Rises

Nepali migrant workers from almost all districts have died in the Gulf and Malaysia, the number of victims from Tarai districts dominates the list, a government report reveals.

The report, compiled by the Foreign Employment Promotion Board (FEPB), shows 3,005 workers from 70 districts died in overseas labour destinations between July 2007 and March 14 this year. Nearly half of them were from the Tarai region.

भिडिओ हेर्न तल क्लिक गर्नु होस् 

At 152, Jhapa in eastern Nepal faced the largest number of deaths in the Gulf. At one death each Jumla, Manang and Bajura have the lowest rate over that period.

FEPB officials said the exact number could be higher as the report only includes workers whose families have claimed compensation from the Migrant Workers Welfare Fund.

“Usually 20-30 percent of deceased workers do not get registered with us as their kin never claim compensation either due to ignorance or other procedural factors,” said a FEPB official.

Though five districts—Dolpa, Humla, Mugu, Mustang and Achham—have not registered any deaths, officials said it might be because their relatives did not make any compensation claim. Other Tarai districts with high number of deaths are Dhanusha, Morang, Siraha, Sunsari, Sarlahi, Saptari, Nawalparasi and Rupandehi.

Experts in the field attribute Tarai’s high death rate in labour destinations to the high number of people from the region embarking on overseas jobs.

भिडिओ हेर्न तल क्लिक गर्नु होस् 

“High number of people from Terai leaving for work overseas could be a reason behind the higher death tolls,” said Badri Karki, spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Employment.  The department has yet to find a district-wise migratory trend.

According to Census 2011, more than half of the country’s population lives in Terai belt, while those living in the hills and mountains constitute nearly 43 and 7 percent respectively.

Although there has hardly been any research, the DoFE attributes low level of education, ineffective pre-departure orientation, faulty health check-ups as factors leading to high number of deaths in labour destinations.

A majority of workers are found to have gone aboard without pre-departure counselling. The office has come across hundreds of erroneous and faked medical certificates and insurance premium letters.

Top ten districts

District         No of Deaths

Jhapa    152

Dhanusha    122

Morang    122

Nawalparasi    99

Sunsari    93

Siraha    92

Tanahu    84

Rolpa    79

Khotang      79

Mahottari     70