DOHA: The number of Nepalis coming to Dubai and other Gulf countries on visit visas hunting employment there has skyrocketed of late.

Thousands of Nepalis, who lost their jobs and have been unemployed due to COVID-19, have started entering the Gulf countries paying millions of rupees to brokers seeking employment there.

After finding many Nepalis on visit visa lying stranded in the UAE, the embassy there has asked people not to go there that way.

The Nepali Embassy there, in a statement, has requested Nepali workers aspiring for employment there to travel only after obtaining a work permit as per the prevailing law.

After receiving unofficial information that Nepalis who have been coming to the UAE on visit visas in search of employment has become the victim of deceit, fraud and have been stranded, the embassy has alerted all aspiring workers to fulfill all formalities strictly.

The embassy has clarified that it is not possible to provide assistance from the Foreign Employment Welfare Fund to those who abstain from fulfilling the legal provisions set by the country and happen to get stranded for the same reason later.

“As it is not possible to take action against the concerned company or other responsible authority if the workers who arrive here on visit visa and do not get the job promised to them, all Nepalis aspiring for a job in the UAE are reminded to obtain a work permit and fulfill all formalities as per the law of the state.” Nepali Embassy in the UAE has stated.

According to the embassy, those who come on visit visa can be deceived, left stranded, or might be taken to the countries Nepal has banned for travel by the traffickers; hence, they should remain vigil against such activities.

It has made it clear that the embassy will not be able to provide any assistance to those who are on visit visa and get stranded.

This is how Nepalis arrive in a foreign land on a visit visa

Only a few months ago, a Nepali woman had applied to the Cyber Bureau in Kathmandu alleging that a UAE broker had stranded her on a visit visa promising her a lucrative job.

Lalita Pun Thapa of Syangja had complained that Ram Raut, a resident of Sukedhara, Kathmandu had sold her in 12000 dirhams in the UAE. According to her, Raut had promised to arrange for her a lucrative job in a company offering domestic jobs. After realizing that she was being sold, she appealed for rescue and requested to send her home.

After discussion, agent Raut has promised to send her the money back. Now, Pun is optimistic that she will soon get the passport and the money.

The brokers are found to have sent thousands of men and women on visit visas daily from Tribhuvan International Airport.

The traffickers influence the immigration officials, police and airline employees at the airport to send the people to the Gulf countries on visit visa. Dubai, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman have been the traffickers’ choice for such deeds.

Of late, the Department of Immigration has sent a proposal to the Ministry to bring some new provisions including mandatory family consent and recommendation of ward office for the women aspiring to go abroad alone.

The women’s rights activists along with most of the political parties have strongly objected to some provisions of the proposal saying they do not go together with the spirit of the constitution.