‘Stay wary of traffickers’ promise of good jobs in east Asian nations

Kathmandu, Dec. 25: The Embassy of Nepal in Bangkok, Thailand repatriated five Nepali nationals to Nepal in a week including one woman who were sent here on Tuesday. 

They were rescued from Myawaddi in Myanmar and brought to Thailand via the Tak Immigration Office in Mae Sot, and repatriated to Nepal with the support from the Thai government agencies, the International Organization of Migration and some non-government organisations, informed the Embassy in a statement. 

Earlier, in March this year, 13 Nepalis who were stranded in Thailand-Myanmar border were rescued and sent to Nepal. 

In rescue efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, victims of human trafficking were also among the 247 Nepalis repatriated from Thailand. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has issued a travel advisory urging Nepalis preparing to go to Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos to exhibit extra cautions. 

According to it, the human traffickers have been taking Nepalis to Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos through Thailand with a promise of high-income jobs in various private sector companies, casinos and digital marketing institutions. Many of such victims were also forced to do illegal work while some have also been kept captive. 

Any foreign national visiting these countries with 'tourist visa' are not allowed to work there, and they are not open for Nepali nationals for foreign employment. If anyone promises employment for Nepali people in these countries, its legally punishable. 

"The Nepali Embassy strongly urges everyone to follow the government-mandated labour approval process before seeking employment abroad and advises against being lured by promises of quick wealth in countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand," said the embassy. 

The Embassy in Bangkok had also issued a travel advisory two years ago and the number of Nepali people falling victim to the lures of human traffickers has significantly come down, claimed the embassy. 

Khaga Nath Adhikari, former Ambassador of Nepal, said that multiple gangs of human traffickers operate in the notorious routes including Nepal-Thailand, Nepal-India-Thailand and Nepal-India-Myanmar-Thailand. 

These gangs take Nepali citizens to Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar while some are also taken to Vietnam and Brunei where they are forced to involve in illegal work, their passports are confiscated while some are tortured and deprived of their wages and payments. Many of such workers are forced to work for more than 12 hours a day. 

"The traffickers attract Nepali youth with a promise to take them to Canada, Japan and European countries where they would earn handsome amount of money. But when they reach Thailand, they are kept there until their money and valuable belongings are gradually snatched away in the name of visa charges or other fees," said Adhikari. 

The trafficker gangs' modus operandi is to let people get exhausted with their hopes, money and belongings. 

Adhikari said that while he was in Bangkok (2014-2019), rescue operations were also conducted in Cambodia as well. 

According to him, lack of severe punishment to the human traffickers has long been the reason behind the growing exploitation of Nepalis in east Asia. 

The government of Nepal has appreciated the cooperation of the Thai authorities in rescuing and expatriating Nepali people from Thailand and neighbouring countries. There is no bilateral extradition treaty between Nepal and Thailand but they are cooperating on the basis of reciprocity commitment, said Adhikari. 

However, the Ministry of Labour Employment and Social Security said that it has requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate in the matter. 

It is planning to consult with the stakeholders on the matter only on Thursday.