TWO Hong Kong-based oganisations working for the rights and welfare of Nepali domestic workers have initiated a campaign to press authorities to lift the employment visa prohibition for Nepali citizens.

Nepalese Domestic Workers’ Union (NDWU) and Far East Overseas Nepalese Association (FEONA) have jointly come up with various programmes to mount pressure on the Hong Kong government to heed to their demand. The campaign was declared in a press meet organised on Sunday.The two organisations told the press that they would appeals for high-level talks between the governments of Nepal and Hong Kong on relaxing the employment visa prohibition for Nepalis. International Migrants Alliance, Migrant Forum in Asia and Federation of Asian Domestic Workers Union have pledged to support the campaign. FEONA Vice President Ganga Khatiwada said the support from the internationally- recognised workers’ organisations could play a crucial role in the movement. “Presently, we are preparing to arrange ministerial-level talks between the two governments,” he said. As part of the campaign, NDWU and FEONA have submitted a memorandum to the Hong Kong immirgration, appealing to the authorities to consider the contribution made by Nepalis in Hong Kong and review the status of employment visa for Nepalis. In support of the campaign, the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women has provided financial aid of around Rs 780,000, organisers said. A survey conducted by a Hong Kong-based trade union had found that Nepali domestic workers were among the most affected by what it dubbed a “discriminatory policy of the local government.” There are 32,000 Nepalis residing in Hong Kong. Among them, around 600 are said to be working as domestic workers. Besides Nepalis, the Hong Kong government has proscribed employment visa for citizens of Afghanistan, Cambodia, Laos, North Korea, Vietnam, Cuba and Albania. FEONA Spokesperson Indra Banem said Nepal should not be compared with the other countries that have been denied work visa. “Not only the number of Nepalis, the contribution of Nepalis in Hong Kong is also high,” he argued. NDWU President Chuni Thapa said in case the workers do not find their jobs suitable and decide to leave, they are forced to find a new work within two weeks as per the existing regulations. Citing causes like volatile political situation of Nepal and growing number of illegal immigrants, the Hong Kong Immigration Department had prohibited business, training, study and employment visas from 2005.

Published on: 2 August 2011 | The Kathmandu Post