Dhan Bahadur Khadka, 18, a migrant worker from Manthi Municipality-6, Ramechhap, has been languishing in a Malaysian forest after his employer sent him to the jungle to fell timber, violating the terms of the original contract. 

After Aakarshan Manpower in Kathmandu arranged Dhan Bahadur’s employment in fish packing business, he had travelled to Malaysia a month ago. However, his employers swiftly changed his job within a few days and stationed him in a forest to fell trees.

The job is posing a threat to Dhan Bahadur’s life as locals living within the vicinity have warned him of serious circumstances if he cuts down trees. 

Khadka reached out to his family over telephone and pleaded with them to rescue him, according to his father Min Bahadur Khadka.

“Dhan’s employers have left him in the middle of a jungle with food and makeshift tent for shelter,” Min Bahadur said, adding that his son had made the call with the help of another Nepali migrant worker working in the same area. 

“He stopped working shortly after receiving threats from the locals. His employers employers haven’t paid him. Although we had borrowed Rs 1 lakh for his trip, now we worry for his safety with no viable option to rescue him,” Min Bahadur added. 

The helpless father has requested journalists to help secure his son’s return. “I made a lot of efforts approaching the manpower company that had processed the documents and the Employment Promotion Board, but no one has bothered to take a look into the issue,” Min Bahadur bemoaned. 

According to the agreement signed between Dhan Bahadur and the manpower company, Dhan Bahadur’s monthly salary was fixed at 1,417 Ringgit. However, Dhan Bahadur hasn’t received any salary so far.

Published on: 16 February 2015 | The Himalayan Times