It says a lot about the collective Nepali conscience that it took a foreign news organization to ‘expose’ what has been obvious for sometime: tens of thousands of Nepali and other South Asian workers are being forced to work like slaves to keep Qatar’s 2022 football World Cup campaign on track. [break]
The recently recalled Nepali ambassador to Qatar, Maya Kumari Sharma, who had some months ago likened the Gulf country to ‘an open jail’ for migrant workers, now stands vindicated. Although some of Sharma’s conducts as her country’s representative have been far from ideal, her harsh words about her host country, at potential risk to her personal career, must have been weighed more carefully. But the focus of Nepali media (including ours) as well as Nepali authorities was more on the ‘undiplomatic’ nature of her remark, rather than its substance.
The Nepali authorities were quick to apologize to their Qatari counterparts for the faux pas which could have potentially cost the Nepali state a share of the World Cup bonanza, with the Gulf state planning investments of over US $100 billion for the 2012 event. Avenues to keep the ‘errant’ Nepali workers in Qatar on a tight leash were being explored. This makes some perverted sense.
Although the inflow of remittance into Nepal continues to increase, the rate has been declining. According to Nepal Rastra Bank, Rs 434.58 billion entered Nepal in remittance in 2012/2013, a 20 percent year-on-year increase, but down from 41.8 percent increase a year earlier. The Department of Foreign Employment data show that the number of Nepalis leaving for work increased to 453,543, up 17.9 percent year-on-year. Of these, 34.6 percent went to Malaysia, 20 percent to Qatar, 19 percent to Saudi Arabia and 11.5 percent to the UAE. Above all, Nepali authorities were worried that labor migration to Qatar, the site of the global gold rush in the wake of its successful World Cup bid, was down 14 percent. Hence the attempt to appease the Qatari authorities.
But keeping mum on the abuse of workers, it turns out, was a pathetic idea all around. Yes, Nepal depends a lot on remittance to keep its economy afloat. But the Nepali state, it seemed, was ready to compromise on the wellbeing of its people to keep the remittance tap open. As a result, the international media is now hounding the Qatari authorities and Nepal is in the limelight for being a silent spectator to the suffering of its primary breadwinners. Now that the ‘undiplomatic’ envoy has been recalled, we hope that someone who can make a strong case for the rights of the Nepali workers is appointed in her place.
But more than that, it is time for Nepal and Qatar to jointly explore ways to safeguard the rights of nearly 100,000 Nepali workers toiling under inhumane conditions under the scorching Qatari sun. A lot of damage has already been done. The two countries might still be able save their face if they own up to their shortcomings and show genuine commitment to making amends.
Related story
‘Kathmandu Blues & Roots Festival’ on Saturday
