Reports
- MIGRATION OF NEPALESE WOMEN TO GULF COUNTRIES: Exploitation and implication on health - 2009-08-14
This is a report based on case histories and experiences shared by the women who have returned to Nepal from gulf countries.
Various reports claim that there are about 70,000 Nepali women migrant workers working in various International foreign labor markets. Annually, Nepal receives approx US$ 1.5 billion as remittances and the contribution of women migrants make up about 11 per cent to this figure. In total, remittance has more than 17 % contribution to the GDP of our country. As per our 2008-2009 statistical data, the number of women traveling to gulf countries, namely- Saudi Arab, Dubai, Oman, Lebanon and Kuwait- in search of job opportunities is rising.
However this does not mean that all the women migrant workers have a secure life in these foreign lands. There have been stories where the rights of the women migrant workers have been violated, not only in the destination land, but throughout the process of migration. Depending upon an erratic male escort makes them more vulnerable since these girls/ women lack knowledge and information on safe migration. Unskilled and unaware of the situation, these women start their journey. They are completely ignorant about their destination land's language, tradition and culture. Their only goal is to reach a foreign land, work hard and send money to their homes.
Their miseries begin, once they reach a foreign land in their employers' house. Their passports are seized and they have no access to communication. They are employed as domestic helpers, but they are physically, mentally and sexually exploited. Their work hours are limitless and they are denied rest. They have to work without complaining for more than twenty hours each day. They are not allowed to go out of the house on their own, but only with their owners or their wife and children. To add on to their sorrows, they are often sexually exploited by the employers. Their main task is to entertain by providing good food and sexual satisfaction. They have minimal negotiation power to refrain and they have no access to any sorts of help.
Since Islam is the religion followed by majority of the population in the gulf countries, these women are forced to give up their religion and follow Islamic rites and rituals. They are threatened to be killed and abandoned if they object. Most of these women are not even paid their salary as per their verbal agreement with the agent. Gradually, when their physical tolerance level dwindles they start losing their mental stability. In such a situation, they are deported back to Nepal in miserable conditions.
Women who arrive at the Tribhuvan Airport come penniless with a mere small handbag or sometimes a polythene bag. Dressed in black burkha, they arrive home, penniless and fully traumatized. Few come in such despondent situations that they are bare feet and totally unaware of where and who they are. Their physical appearance and mental status at the time of their arrival is outrageously alarming.
Lack of social support can be identified as a mitigating factor for high rate of psychological disorder and mental illness found among the girls and women who have returned from gulf countries. In our society, acknowledging mental and sexual health problem is a taboo. This makes it more difficult for the girls/ women to admit that they need medical intervention for psycho social or sexual problem. Consequently, women who have returned from gulf countries find it difficult to share their problems. Their families are hesitant to take them home when they find out that their ward is suffering from certain mental or physical illness.
Most of the women who have returned from a gulf country are diagnosed with various mental disorders like psychosis, severe depression and schizophrenia. According to the available data only 33% of women returned healthy from the Gulf Countries .Of the 67% who had medical problems, 57% of the women were diagnosed to have some kind of Psychiatric illness, 2 % were pregnant, 4% had Pulmonary Tuberculosis, and 4% had other minor problems. Amongst the patient who had Psychiatric disease 50% were cases of Psychosis like Schizophrenia, 10 % were maniac, 20 % had Depression, 13% had depression along with Psychosis, while 7 % were cases of Anxiety.
The history of human race vouches for the existence of migration from time, unknown. With the political instability, economic crisis and ever pacing process of globalization, migration is here to stay. The need of an hour is to understand the connection between migration and health. Migration is a source of livelihood for many, hence to prevent it is not a question, but to manage it more efficiently to diminish its negative implications. While, for the protection of the rights of these girls/ women, there are domestic laws, bilateral agreements between the host and source countries and also International Conventions, but whether they are being followed and implemented is dubious.
During interviews with some of the girls / women who have returned from the Gulf countries, after their recovery, they have shared their stories which paints the actual scenario of the women working in gulf countries is far too miserable and horrifying than what this report claims.
