RUPAK D SHARMA

What is the similarity between construction workers, jewellery makers, brick kiln workers, carpenters, street vendors, garment workers and scrap pickers in the Kathmandu Valley? The latest report says most of them are Indians. The report titled Informal Labour Market: Non-Nepali Labourers in Kathmandu, prepared by the Department of Labour, says about 40 to 50 per cent of workers in the informal labour market of the Valley are Indian nationals, with more than 50 per cent of them hailing from the state of Bihar. The rest come from West Bengal, Rajasthan and Orissa.

It is said these workers earn Rs 5,000 to over Rs 100,000 per month, depending on their skills and the type of work they do. However, consolidated figure on the amount they send home is not available — although the report says each Indian worker on an average remit somewhere between Rs 7,000 and Rs 30,000 per month, mostly through informal channels.

These funds are exclusive of Rs 7.37 billion that foreigners working in Nepal remitted to their home countries in the last fiscal year through formal channels. If all these amounts are calculated, total outgoing workers’ remittance from the country would stand at tens of billions of rupees.

These findings come at a time when over 1,000 Nepalis are leaving the country every day seeking job placements abroad, citing a lack of employment opportunities at home.

“The migration of Nepali labourers for foreign employment is increasing the gap in supply and demand of skilled workers. Thus, to fulfil this gap, employers hire Indian workers,” the report adds. “Besides, many employers prefer Indian migrants as they do not get engaged in activities of trade unions.” The report states most of them are construction workers, goldsmiths, scrap pickers, street vendors, carpenters and garment workers.

Around 25-30 per cent of two million workers employed in the Valley’s construction sector are Indians. It is said most of those fixing tiles and marbles come from Rajasthan, wall plasters are put on mostly by West Bengalis and most of the electricians and plumbers hail from Bihar and Orissa, respectively. Their average monthly savings stand at around Rs 7,000. The jewellery sector receives 75 per cent of its estimated 65,000-strong workforce from India. These migrants working as goldsmiths take home around Rs 5 billion every year, the report states. Likewise, 50 per cent of street vendors are Indians, with most of them selling vegetables, fruits and fast food items, while many of the carpenters working in the Valley also come from the neighbouring country.

Each of these workers sends home up to Rs 10,000 per month. The report adds brick kiln is another business that largely absorbs Indian migrants. Brick kiln workers on average earn Rs 15,000 a month. Similarly, 40 to 50 per cent of people working in textile and garment industries and 33 per cent of scrap pickers are Indians. Each garment worker sends home Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000 per month. The monthly income of scrap pickers ranges from Rs 12,000 to Rs 35,000.

Sectorwise engagements

• Tile and marble: Rajasthan

• Electricians: Bihar

• Plumbing: Orissa

• Wall plaster: West Bengal

• Brick industry: Bihar

• Jewellery: West Bengal / Rajasthan

• Tailoring and textiles: West Bengal/ Bihar

• Carpenters: Bihar

• Street Vendors: Bihar

Percentage distribution

• Jewellery: 75 per cent

• Street vendors: 50 per cent

• Textile and garment industries: 40-50 per cent

• Scrap picking: 33 per cent

• Construction sector: 25-30 per cent

Published on: 12 September 2013 | The Himalayan Times