Nepali workers in Qatar remain dependent on a labour agreement signed in 2005, which has yet to be revised despite repeated efforts by Nepal to make it more relevant to current needs. Nepal began pressing for revisions in 2018, but Qatar has consistently delayed finalising a new agreement, offering assurances without substantive progress.
Nepal’s Vice President, Ramsahay Prasad Yadav, recently highlighted worker welfare during a meeting with Qatar’s Ambassador to Nepal, Mishal Bin Mohammad Ali Al Ansari. On December 3, Yadav urged Qatar to ensure 24-hour insurance coverage for Nepali workers, facilitate rescue and compensation for injured or deceased workers, and assist Nepalis in hospitals, deportation centers, and prisons in Qatar.
Legacy fund announcement sparks concerns
A day after this meeting, Qatar announced a $50 million World Cup Legacy Fund aimed at various initiatives. However, it fell short of addressing expectations for compensating families of the 2,600 Nepali workers who died or were injured during infrastructure construction for the World Cup from 2010 to 2022. While the fund’s announcement is notable, Qatar has remained silent on broader policies affecting migrant worker welfare.
Nepal continues to send workers under the outdated agreement, limiting its ability to advocate for worker rights effectively. Efforts to renegotiate began in 2018, with multiple drafts exchanged between the two countries. However, despite promises of swift action, Qatar has avoided taking a firm stance on key issues, leaving Nepali workers in a vulnerable position.
Missed opportunities for a new agreement
In February 2023, during a meeting at the Abu Dhabi Dialogue, labour officials from Nepal and Qatar agreed to prepare a new memorandum of understanding to coincide with a planned visit by Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, to Nepal. However, Qatar failed to follow through, and even during the Emir’s visit in April 2023, no new agreement was signed.
Nepal’s labour minister at the time, Dol Prasad Aryal, had urged Qatar’s ambassador to prioritise revising the bilateral labour agreement, highlighting the urgency of worker protection. Yet, no significant progress was made. Officials at Nepal’s Ministry of Labour and Employment claim the draft agreement is in its final stages, with demands for fair wages, 24-hour insurance, better accommodations, and timely salary payments. Still, these efforts have not led to concrete outcomes.
Persistent challenges for Nepali workers
Qatar remains a top destination for Nepali workers, with approximately 400,000 Nepalis currently employed there. Despite their contributions to Qatar’s economy, Nepali workers face exploitation, unsafe working conditions, and limited legal protections. Key issues include lack of adequate insurance, delays in salary payments, and unsafe living and working environments.
The situation gained global attention during the 2022 FIFA World Cup when numerous migrant workers, including Nepalis, died or were injured during construction projects. Despite international pressure and Qatar’s legal reforms in collaboration with the International Labour Organization in 2017, including the removal of employer consent for leaving the country or changing jobs, many challenges persist.
Nepal has repeatedly raised concerns about economic, physical, and mental exploitation faced by its workers. Key demands include fair recruitment practices, robust social security measures, professional health and safety provisions, and 24-hour insurance coverage. Nepal has also proposed establishing skill development centers for workers within the country.
However, Qatar has shown little interest in addressing these issues comprehensively. For instance, discussions to revise the labour agreement often stall, with Qatar offering assurances without committing to significant changes. This pattern has frustrated Nepal’s labour officials and advocates, who see Qatar’s reluctance as a major obstacle to improving worker welfare.
Another contentious issue is the deployment of domestic workers, particularly women, to Qatar. In 2012, Nepal restricted women under 30 from working in Gulf countries, citing exploitation and abuse concerns. In 2016, the government further restricted sending domestic workers to countries without labour agreements, including Qatar. These policies have complicated labour negotiations, as Qatar has frequently pressed Nepal to lift these restrictions while avoiding broader reforms.
Lack of diplomatic pressure
Critics have pointed to Nepal’s weak labour diplomacy as a key factor behind the stalemate. The Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs Association and labour rights experts argue that Nepal needs to exert more pressure on Qatar to ensure better working conditions for its citizens.
Labour rights expert Madhuvilas Pandit emphasised the importance of updating outdated agreements and ensuring their effective implementation. “Nepal must negotiate labour agreements that protect workers’ rights and reflect current realities,” Pandit stated, adding that the burden of inadequate policies ultimately falls on the workers.
Dire situations for many workers
Reports from human rights organisations highlight severe hardships faced by migrant workers in Qatar, including unpaid wages, poor working conditions, and limited access to legal recourse. Some workers have returned to Nepal without salaries despite months of labour. Others remain stranded in Qatar, unable to secure justice.
Currently, 67 Nepalis are serving jail sentences in Qatar, while many undocumented workers face uncertain futures. Vice President Yadav recently urged Qatar to grant amnesty or reduce jail terms for imprisoned Nepalis and facilitate the regularisation of undocumented workers.
As labour negotiations with Qatar stagnate, Nepal remains committed to raising these issues in bilateral meetings. However, without significant diplomatic pressure or international support, progress remains uncertain. Labour officials emphasise the need for a unified approach to advocate for fair treatment and secure agreements that prioritise worker welfare.
Nepal’s labour officials and rights groups continue to call for transparency, accountability, and stronger safeguards for Nepali workers abroad. Achieving these goals requires persistent efforts and genuine cooperation from destination countries like Qatar. Until then, Nepali workers will remain dependent on an agreement that no longer reflects their needs or protects their rights effectively.
