Rights activists and researchers on Monday, August 4, called on the government to lift restrictions on women migrating abroad—especially to Gulf countries—for domestic work, and to establish official channels to ensure their safe overseas employment.
They made the remarks at the launch of the research book “Invisible in Life and Death: Visibilising the Deaths of Female Nepali Migrant Domestic Workers and the Struggles of Their Families,” speakers raised concerns about women travelling abroad on tourist visas or through unofficial routes through India due to government restrictions–which often puts them at risk of trafficking, exploitation, and abuse.
The event was organised by the Women’s Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC). The research was conducted in collaboration with Brunel University London, WOREC, and the Sunita Foundation, WOREC said in a post on its official Facebook page.
“This research brings to light the stories of Nepali women who died while working abroad as domestic workers, and the deep, ongoing struggles of the families they left behind,” WOREC said. “This is more than just a report—it is a memorial, an act of resistance, and a demand for accountability.”
Using 17 case studies from Sindhupalchok, Jhapa, Dang, and Surkhet, and drawing on Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), the research presents a sobering picture of systemic injustice and structural neglect.
“The stories of these migrant workers should not be viewed as isolated tragedies,” said WOREC. “They are the result of flawed systems, gendered violence, and economic desperation.”
Citing widespread abuse and exploitation, the government has imposed a series of bans on Nepali women's labour mobility. But, critics say it violates their fundamental rights. In September 2020, a parliamentary committee directed the government to lift a more than three-year ban on women working in the Gulf as domestic workers—but only under conditions many observers deemed unworkable.
In March 2022, the Department of Immigration issued a 17-point directive aimed at curbing misuse of visit visas. One provision limited travel to the Gulf on visit visas to those who had visited the region at least twice previously.
[Read: Women’s Share in Visit Visa Travels Triples in Three Years: Immigration Department]
Sulochana Khanal, Programme Manager at WOREC, said: “If Nepal accepts remittances sent by migrant workers, it must also be responsible for their lives, safety, and families.”
Dr Ayushman Bhagat, a lecturer at Brunel University London, emphasised the need for equality when assisting women migrant workers, especially those who travel through unofficial channels.
“During our conversations with the elderly parents of deceased women migrant workers, we learned they are raising future generations without any support,” Bhagat was quoted as saying by state-owned RSS. “These families deserve long-term mental health services, legal aid, and public recognition.”
Bhagat also called for extending insurance and compensation systems to undocumented workers and their families.
Rights activists at the event stressed that the state must take responsibility for the challenges faced by women migrant workers—before, during, and after their journeys abroad.
(With inputs from RSS)
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