Stories
WHEN DREAM HAS SMASHED
May 19, 2016
People tend for foreign employment aiming to get the employment opportunity which helps solve the problem of poverty and fulfill their basic requirement. Until the economic condition in Nepal improves, the tendency to migrate will keep increasing and this increase in foreign employment is gradually being dangerous due to illegal, insecure situations and variation in language of job holders. Also the workers are not properly paid as per agreement and has to be involved in more hours of work.
The case of Amesh Thing, who fought to return back due to the breach of contract in Malaysia illustrates the struggle faced by the migrant worker in foreign employment. 19 years old Amesh Thing, from a poor family background is now living with his family in Makawanpur- village of Nepal. Although being poor, he lived a life without carrying any burden. He had a high dream of earning the money which helps him bring better economic condition in his family and could continue his further studies after returning back from foreign employment.
With the immense trust on the recruitment agency, Mr. Thing went to Malaysia by paying 1 lakh rupee on debt where recruitment agent had promised well paid work and the opportunity to provide for his family. It was totally new environment and strange language but the eager to earn money brought him some courage. He went to the Dorex Technologies Sdn. Bhd. Company with the employer who came to pick him at the airport. The work and wages that the agent promised him was totally different. Nevertheless, Amesh continued to work in the company. But unfortunately, after working for 1 month, Amesh suffered from Dengue and had a very critical health situation. Due to his health condition, he couldn’t go for work for two weeks. Besides couple of week from his recovery while going back to work, he was already removed from his job.
Given no choice, Amesh was forced to pay 3500 RM to the company as a compensation and return back. But grievously, he had no ability to pay that huge amount of money. So, the employer made Amesh's brother in law, who worked in same company, unwillingly pay the compensation in installment basis by deducting the monthly salary until it gets fully paid. Finally, Amesh returned back home after 4 months with lot of struggle.
Amesh dreams of earning money and raising the economic condition but made him a burden of huge debt. "I thought of earning some money and make my socio-economic life easier but now I don’t know how I am going to pay back all the loan I took from my relatives", says Amesh.
Is it the false promise of the recruitment agency, that we have only been blaming upon or the Nepalese government showing unwillingness to act against supporting evidence of labor abuse faced by the migrant workers? The question still remains unanswered.
Author, Jasmin Karmacharaya
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