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Kathmandu,Friday February 18, 2000 Fagun 06, 2056.
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Nepali workers in UAE rise by three-folds
By Vijaya Babu Khatri
KATHMADNU, Feb 17- Flow of
Nepali workers to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has increased by about three-folds within
the last seven months after the UAE government banned the entry of labourers from Asian
subcontinent, excluding Nepal.
According to Department of
Labour, the number of workers flying to UAE on legal basis has increased by three-folds
after the UAE denied visa to labourers from the countries of Asian sub-continent, other
than Nepal.
Following the ban on
labourers, the Department puts the number of labourers flying to the UAE at over three
thousands. While there were just over one thousand registered Nepali labourers working in
this oil-rich Gulf country earlier. However, Foreign Employment Agencies say there were
over twelve thousand workers staying there illegally.
The Foreign Employment
Agencies also agree that the employment of Nepali workers has increased in UAE after the
ban. Krishna Adhikari, Manger of The Gorkha Re-employment says, "The ban on the
workers from Asian sub-continent has come as a boon to Nepali workers, which has already
increased by over three folds."
The demand for Nepali workers
from UAE have been increasing since then, said he. Since UAE offers one of the highest
wages to the foreign workers among the Gulf countries, it has remained as a focal point of
attraction to foreign job seeker lower class Nepalese.
Over 56 percent of the
foreign employees working in the UAE are from India and 36 percent are from Pakistan.
Similarly, the total number of workers from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan constitute
about two-third of the total population. Reportedly, the UAE banned the entry of workers
from these countries taking into account the long-term threats to its national security.
Jaswant Singh, Indian
Minister for External Affairs is learnt to have visited the UAE some months back and
requested to lift the ban. However, the UAE government is yet to respond to his request.
Agencies say representatives
from His Majesty’s Government should also visit the UAE and initiate to open up
embassy to promote employment in this Gulf country. "If the government takes
proactive initiations to promote employment in the UAE, the number can rise to over 50
thousand within a few years," says Adhikari.
Nepali workers mainly work in supermarkets,
factories, and hotels in the UAE. However, according to the Foreign Employment Agencies,
recognizing their sincerity much recently, Nepali workers have also been recruited in
Abhudhabi City Police. The Agencies say, over 500 Nepali workers have already been
inducted in Abhudhabi Police.
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