An Discussion was held between the officials of the International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF) and the members of the Home Workers’ Trade Union of Nepal (HUN) on August 3 at the GEFONT Trade Union School in Anamnagar.

The participants are of the opinion that, since the issues of domestic workers all over the world are similar in nature, progress can be made through a united movement.

Welcoming the IDWF delegates in the said interview, GEFONT Vice President Shrestha said that HUN has launched strong movements to establish the issue of domestic workers in the context of Nepal. GEFONT Foreign Department Secretary Smriti Lama, HUN President Chandra Sagar Lama, General Secretary Gyanu KC and other central members and domestic workers were present in the meeting.

Similarly, the Vice President and other members participated under the leadership of Secretary General Adriana Paz on behalf of IDWF.

On that occasion, (HUN) President Chandra Sagar Lama praised the cooperation and solidarity received from IDWF since its inception to help improve the condition of Nepalese home workers.

On the 26th of July, IDWF General Secretary Adriana Paz had a discussion with GEFONT President Binod Shrestha and General Secretary Laxman Sharma at the GEFONT Central Office.

Manmaya Sunar of Belbari Municipality Ward No. 3 of Morang was able to return home on 7th of August with the help of GEFONT Migrant Desk Kuwait.

A local agent took her to Kuwait saying he would take her to Dubai for foreign employment. After falling victim to the “free visa, free ticket” scam, Manmaya was forced to work 18 hours a day as a tortured domestic worker after arriving there.

Manmaya Sunar, who came in contact with GEFONT to return her to Nepal, was informed by Janak BK of GEFONT Migrant Desk then they managed to return Manmaya Sunar to Nepal within 5 days with all the expenses borne by the agent.

General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) Support Group Nepali Migrant Worker Union Qatar has formed an area committee on November 8 at Barwa Al Baraha.

A 16 member area committee was formed under the presidency of Ghanashyam Rijal in the program where Nepali Migrant Workers Union GEFONT Support Group Qatar’s president Samundra Khadka was the chief guest.

In the program initiated by GEFONT Support Group Qatar’s Secretary Giri Prasad Darlami, chief guest Samundra Khadka shed light on GEFONT’s policies and programs.

Likewise, union’s Vice President Nawaraj Shahi congratulated the newly formed committee. The program was organized by the union’s officials General Secretary Lokbahadur Yogi and the attendees were welcomed by Financial Secretary Salbahadur Shrestha.
 

The body of Tilakram Thapa, 34, of Hariwan Municipality, Sarlahi district, who went to Saudi Arabia for foreign employment through Sky Blue International 22 months ago, was brought back to Nepal on November 13.

Janak BK of GEFONT Immigrant Desk informed that the body of Thapa, who died of an electric shock on September 7 while working at the Aster factory in Saudi Arabia, was brought back to Nepal on November 13 after about 2 and a half months after the Nepali Embassy in Saudi Arabia completed all the legal procedures.
 

The Saudi government is showing some flexibility in the case of migrant domestic workers and is planning to provide a new facility to foreign female domestic workers to return home or change their employer (sponsor) within two months if they are not satisfied with the work, according to the Nepali Embassy in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi government has been forced to revise its policy after the countries started limiting sending domestic workers to Saudi Arabia due to Saudi Arabia’s hostile policy against such workers.

Nepal has also banned sending domestic workers to Saudi Arabia since 2072 BS as there is no guarantee of a safe environment for Nepali domestic workers. Nepal has been placing various conditions in labor negotiations to ensure the safety and rights of domestic workers.
 

The South Korean Migrant Workers Union (MTU) has been expressing its opposition to the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security’s preparations to send workers to Korea under the E7 visa system through a manpower company.

Migrant Workers Union (MTU) President Udaya Rai has also demanded the implementation of a Work Permit System (WPS) that allows Nepali workers to change their workplace at will, saying that when workers are sent through a manpower company, they have to pay a lot of money to agents, and that the selection process is not transparent and they can be scammed.