-116 Nepalis in Libya, Sudan await rescue

News Published in Republica,
KIRAN CHAPAGAIN
KATHMANDU, May 12: Ninety-four Nepali laborers working for a company in the north African country of Libya have appealed to the Nepal government for immediate rescue, saying they are being forced to work in miserable conditions.

The plight of the workers came to light after the Nepali Embassy in Cairo, Egypt wrote to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) here Tuesday, informing the government about the matter.
"We have been informed that the workers have been working as bonded labor and have been deprived of their basic salary for as many as nine months," said a senior MoFA official, preferring anonymity.

The workers, in a joint appeal sent to the Department of Employment Promotion on April 25 through the embassy, said they were duped by their agents who promised them work at CKG, a multi-national company with expertise in carrying out projects of a civil and mechanical nature. But they ended up being associated with Gorkhas Construction Pvt Ltd in Libya, according to a letter in the possession of Republica. The former company is already in the process of closing down, according to them.

Following receipt of the letter, the Nepali mission in Cairo carried out a study and found that the labors were working in vulnerable conditions.

"They are awaiting immediate rescue," the official said quoting the letter from the embassy. MoFA sources further said that approximately US$ 141,000 - which covers air tickets and compensation to the employer company - is needed to rescue them.

In the letter sent to the Department of Employment Promotion, the laborers said they reached Libya through Dhaulagiri Manpower Company and sought action against it.

In yet another case, the Nepali mission in Riyadh has also written to the government informing it that 22 Nepali laborers in Sudan have appealed for immediate rescue, saying they are being forced to work as bonded labor in poor conditions at the Khartum-based Fresh Soap Factory.

The government does not yet recognize Sudan as a labor destination and sending Nepali workers to the northeast African country is considered illegal.

According to MoFA officials, the company is ready to let the Nepali workers return if they are provided air tickets and compensation paid for terminating the contract. Officials said approximately US$ 3,300 is needed to rescue the laborers from Sudan.