Shreejana Shrestha

A furor raised by the international media sometime back over the miserable condition of migrant workers in Qatar is apparently fizzling out. But the migrant workers, especially from South Asian nations, including Nepal, continue to suffer in silence.

Amnesty International has now reported that Nepal ranks third in terms of the suicide rate among foreign migrant workers in Qatar.  A total of 44 Nepali nationals have committed suicide in Qatar, since the start of 2010, making Nepal the third worst country in terms of suicide rate in the Gulf nation, cautions the international organization working for human rights.

Migrant workers from Sri Lanka first and India top the list of migrant workers committing suicide in Qatar.  International media estimate that there are 1.2 million migrant workers in Qatar. Indians and Pakistanis comprise around 22 percent of the total migrant workers each, followed by Nepalis who make up around 16 percent.

Nearly 13 percent of the overseas workers are from Iran, 11 percent from the Philippines and 8 percent each from Egypt and Sri Lanka. What is more worrisome than the death toll is the fact that Nepali migrant workers are among those who are brought to psychiatric wards in Qatari hospitals.

“The trauma unit at Hamad hospital in Qatar receives more migrant workers from Sri Lanka, India and Nepal who are suffering from metal disorder or those who have attempted suicide,” said Rameshwar Nepal, director of Amnesty International, Nepal chapter, quoting in-charge of the state-run hospital set up for the migrant workers.

However, there is no official data to establish how many Nepalese visit the psychiatric unit every day on average.
Nor has this hospital specified the identity or status of the migrant workers - whether they are female domestic helps or men who are exposed to hazardous and almost in humane working condition in the construction industry in the country obsessed to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

“All that the hospital authorities have informed us is that the ratio of Nepal is visiting the psychiatric department is the third highest among all the migrant workers in Qatar,” the Amnesty International official said.

Sadly enough, even the government of Nepal has failed to keep tab on the number and status of Nepali migrant workers in Qatar - or any of the major labor destinations in the Middle East. According to data provided the Department of Foreign Employment, there are around 400,000 Nepali migrant workers in Qatar. Most of the female workers are employed as domestic helps. 

Acting Executive Director at the Foreign Employment Promotion Board, Tika Bhandari said frustration among Nepali workers is a major reason of suicide. “Nepali migrant workers tend to attempt suicide as many of them don´t have legal status and don´t get job as promised by the recruiting agencies,” Bhandari said, adding, “In case of female, the reason behind suicide could be sexual harassment or rape by their abusive employers.” 

Releasing a report titled ´My sleep is my break: Exploitation of domestic workers in Qatar´ amid a function in Kathmandu on Wednesday, the Amnesty International has urged the Qatari government to come up with legislation that could give justice to the rape victims and collect medical and forensic evidence in line with international guidelines in a bid to convict perpetrators.

“According to the 2010 Qatar census, 132,401 foreign nationals -- 84,164 women and 48,237 men were employed in the domestic work sector,” states the report. Women migrant domestic workers are mainly from South and South East Asia. 

“Women who find themselves in abusive households face utterly miserable conditions. They have few options -- if they choose to simply get out of the house, they will be branded ´runaways´ and are likely to end up being detained and deported,” said Audrey Gaughran, director of Amnesty International´s Global Issues in a press statement issued on Wednesday. 

The report was prepared on the basis of interviews with 52 female domestic workers as well as government officials, embassies of the source countries of the workers and recruitment agencies. 

The report also mentions that foreign domestic helps work for more than 100 hours a week without a day off. 

Amnesty International also recommended the government of Qatar to revoke the provision of Kafala (sponsorship) system, which makes it mandatory for foreign nationals to obtain permission of their incumbent employer to switch jobs or leave the country.

Published on: 25 April 2014 | Republica