Nepalnews. com 50,000 Nepali women working in Saudi Arabia, more workers sought

Even as the government has banned women from going to Gulf countries for employment, nearly 50,000 Nepali women have already entered Saudi Arabia through illegal channels.

Minister for Information and Communication Dr Mohammad Mohsin who returned home after a weeklong tour to three Gulf states informed this. Talking to reporters at Tribhuvan Airport, Mohsin said, "We were told by Saudi officials that the number of Nepali women has crossed 50,000 whereas Nepal has not allowed women to go to the Gulf for work. They reach there through various channels."

He said that Saudi employers have urged Nepal to send more women workers. "Since so many women are working there, the government will consider lifting the ban," he said.

Mohsin informed that the Gulf countries were ready to take more Nepali labourers. "UAE is ready to welcome as many as one million more workers from Nepal," said he, adding that skilled labours were more on demand.

During the tour, according to him, the Nepali team discussed with the government officials of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar concerning the security of Nepali workers. He claimed that the Gulf authorities were not worried by the September 1 violence and arson in reaction to the killing of 12 Nepalis in Iraq.

Gulf labour ministers are scheduled to tour Nepal very soon, Mohsin informed.

The minister further said that the government was determined to take stern action against manpower agencies involved in illegal practices while sending workers to the Gulf.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Prakash Saran Mahat and State Minister for Labor and Transport Management Urba Dutta Pant had accompanied. nepalnews.com mbk Oct 14 04 Sphere: Related Content