Living the golden dreams: the gulf and Nepalese women

Nepalese migration for work is a centuries-old practice, although during the past two decades the dynamics of this phenomenon have shifted dramatically. These changes have occurred in tandem with democratization and the liberalization of Nepalese migration policy since 1990, and with the increasing integration of Nepal into the global cash economy. One major change has been in the destinations of migrant workers. Whereas Nepalese migrants once primarily traveled to India or mercenary postings with the British or Indian armies, today Nepalese migrants travel all over the world for work. The Arab states of the Persian Gulf – Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iraq – have become some of the most important destinations for Nepalese migrants. In UAE alone, for example, it is estimated that there are 150,000 Nepalis. Another major change in the migration phenomenon is related to the demographics of Nepalese migrant workers, particularly gender representation. Although traditionally women were not heavily involved in migration, today it is estimated that around 30% of Nepalese migrant workers are female (although official data, which omit undocumented workers, put this figure much lower). Among women migrant workers, approximately 80% end up doing some form of domestic work in private households – as housemaids, cooks, cleaners, caretakers, etc. While for many domestic workers in the Gulf, migration has provided good opportunities for cash income that are simply not available in Nepal today, many female migrants also become victims of exploitation and abuse. Migrants sometimes become victims of trafficking during the travel process, especially when they go undocumented using informal channels. Additionally, migrant women, especially those engaged in domestic work, often face exploitation and abuse in the workplace. Female domestic workers are especially at risk due to the informal and isolated nature of their work and because of the lack of appropriate legal protections for informal sector workers in destination countries. The issue of how to better assist female migrant domestic workers, to ensure both their safety and their livelihoods, is a topic of serious debate. Often, the issue has been raised in the aftermath of serious cases of abuse (such as the mysterious death of Kani Sherpa in Kuwait in 1998), leading to rushed government reactions such as bans and age restrictions on women migrating to work. These responses have been criticized for violating women’s rights, unduly hurting young women, and driving more women migrants underground, which further increases their vulnerability to abuse. A number of alternative strategies have been implemented and/ or proposed by various stakeholders, including preventative measures and other actions to be undertaken by the government, NGO sector, and private sector involved in the migration process.