Nepali youths working in Baghdad and surrounding areas of the war-torn Iraq have been reportedly barred by their employers to return home.

 

Some of the migrants said that though they are eager to return home following family pressure, their employers have not allowed them to leave. The employers have, however, assured them to safely return home if such serious situation arise. "Even though we do not want to stay here anymore, our employers are not in favour of letting us go," Krishna Kumar Shrestha of Tanahun, who has been working in Baghdad for four years, told Post over phone.

 

According to Shrestha, all the seven Nepali workers in the company that manufactures containers are willing to return home. "We live in constant fear here," he said. Five Nepalis working around 73 kms south of Kirkuk city face the same ordeal. "Nobody knows what will happen here. A suicide bomb was exploded near our residence some days ago. We want to return home as soon as possible," said Ram Prasad Kharel of Rupandehi, who landed in Iraq seven months ago after paying Rs 250,000.

 

"I skipped work in an attempt to return back to Nepal. But my employer ordered us to get back to work, assuring us to make return arrangements if the security situation deteriorates," said Daud Tamang of Dhading, who works in a hotel in Baghdad, where 16 Nepalis are currently employed.

 

Nepali ambassador to Pakistan Bharatraj Poudel said they will soon consult companies denying Nepalis to return home. "Once we get all details of the companies, we will resolve the matter through talks," he said.