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More women attracted to foreign employment
KATHMANDU, JAN 14 - The number of women leaving the country for foreign employment unofficially is increasing every day, thanks mainly to the lack of employment opportunities and ongoing conflict at home.
The largest number of women goes to the Gulf countries and work as domestic helper there. Under qualification forces such women to bear higher risks and get cheated in jobs abroad.
According to UNIFEM, most of the women who go to the Gulf countries for jobs are exposed to risks due to lack of awareness on jobs. However, the government does not have an exact and updated record of women who go to the Gulf countries unofficially.
The government record shows that only 300 women have left the country for employment abroad. But the census of 2002 shows that 83,000 women have gone abroad while according to UNIFEM, 34,000 women are in foreign employment.
Besides the 300 women, all the rest have gone abroad unofficially and are working there. "These different data show that the women are working in those countries unregistered," says Saru Joshi Shrestha, Programme Coordinator of UNIFEM.
Although Nepali women began going abroad for employment two decades ago, the largest chunk has left the kingdom over the past three years. Women who go to the Gulf countries are cheated more in their jobs than those who work in European nations.
In almost all cases, women work as domestic helpers in those countries. They are basically involved in manual jobs like baby-sitting, cooking, dish washing, sheep grazing among others.
A small number of such women also work in departmental stores and nursing homes as well.
Women who have returned from such jobs abroad say that lack of pre-job orientation has compelled them to bear risks.
"Women are at risk while working abroad. Jobs are very difficult and need to work from dawn to dusk. Moreover, one is always at risk of misbehaviour," says Sabitri Pun of Pokhara who has returned from South Korea working there for six years.
It is found that the bigger number of women from Dharan and Pokhara leave the country for foreign employment. Women contribute 11 percent to the remittance.
Joshi says that women should not be barred from going abroad for employment just because faces some risks, instead they should be given pre-job orientation, she adds.
Women workers are also exploited by the foreign employment agencies. They offer one job before leaving the country and the concerned foreign employers ask them to do another job. Most of the recruiting agencies do not provide even pre-job orientation.
"All the aspirant workers are gathered at the airport shortly before the departure without any instruction. This is why the workers are being cheated and are forced to do unwanted jobs and the government is also responsible for it," says Joshi.
Women activists are demanding that they should be given equal opportunity to their male counterparts in foreign employment. They can also contribute significantly to the remittance.
Currently, the government allows women to go to 22 countries for employment.
Niraj Thapa, president of Heralo Foundation, argues that women should be encouraged for foreign employment as those working abroad have improved their living standard and contributed significantly to remittance.Posted on: 2004-01-15 03:36
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