NEPALGUNJ – A 35-year-old woman from Khajura Rural Municipality-7, Banke, successfully returned to Nepal following a period of undocumented labor and alleged abuse in Kuwait.
Kamala Thapa (Shahi) was repatriated after a coordinated rescue effort involving local volunteers, a migrant resource center, and the Nepali Embassy in Kuwait.
Undocumented Departure and Working Conditions
Driven by a need to support her family of eight, Thapa traveled to Kuwait for employment in June 2016. The journey was facilitated by a local acquaintance through India, bypassing the legal requirement for a labor permit from Tribhuvan International Airport.
Thapa secured a position as a domestic worker with an initial monthly salary of approximately 32,000 Nepali Rupees. However, she reported that the reality of her situation differed significantly from the assurances she received before departure. Lacking proficiency in the local language and unfamiliar with the culture, she faced immediate barriers.
“It felt like years just to pass two years,” Thapa said while reflecting on her time abroad. “I was not allowed to speak with my family at home when I wanted to, and I had to face punishment if work went wrong”. She further noted that the experience was made more difficult by the language barrier and physical and mental abuse from her employer.
Legal Complications and Isolation
The situation deteriorated further once Thapa’s visa expired. Although her employer paid her during the initial contract period, payments ceased once the contract ended. Despite her desire to return home, her employer refused to release her and frequently confiscated her phone to prevent communication with her family.
During rare opportunities to call home, she expressed her distress to her husband, Lal Bahadur, and their six children, pleading for help to return to Nepal.
The Rescue Process
The path to Thapa’s repatriation began when Lal Bahadur met a returnee volunteer working under the SaMi (Safer Migration) project. Following the volunteer's advice, Lal Bahadur attended a community orientation program on employment in Khajura-7, where he reported his wife's situation.
In February 2021, he filed a formal application at the Migrant Resource Center located within the District Administration Office in Nepalgunj. The center coordinated with the Pravasi Nepali Coordination Committee (PNCC) in Kathmandu.
The PNCC attempted to contact Thapa multiple times, but she was initially unable to answer as she had to hide her phone usage from her employer. When she finally managed to take a call, her employer intervened and prevented the conversation.
Following this, the PNCC alerted the Nepali Embassy in Kuwait. Embassy officials contacted both Thapa and her employer. Under pressure from the diplomatic mission, the employer agreed to purchase Thapa’s air ticket and provided her with approximately 1,600 Nepali Rupees for her journey to the airport.
Current Situation
Since her return in late 2021, Thapa has focused on her recovery and local livelihood. She underwent medical treatment for the physical and mental health issues resulting from the treatment she received in Kuwait.
To sustain her family, she has started a goat farming business. Meanwhile, her husband, Lal Bahadur, has traveled to India in search of work.
Stories of Changed Lives through the Facilitation of SaMi (2079), Safer Migration (SaMi) Project.
