Iraq-bound Nepalese stranded in UAE

Dubai: A group of Nepalese men recruited by a manpower company in Nepal for jobs in Iraq cried foul when they were left stranded in Sharjah for over a month and asked to fend for themselves by a company representative.

"I was promised a job as a security man in Iraq. I paid 200,000 Nepalese rupees (Dh10,570) to an agent in Nepal," said one man who did not want to be identified fearing retribution.

There were 18 other Nepalese recruited along with him by the same company. They were brought to the UAE through India on a visit visa.

"The company representative told us that since he was not given his commission he was no longer interested in getting us to Iraq. We were categorically asked to look for jobs in the UAE and continue here. He completely washed his hands of us," said another Nepalese.

A travel ban to Iraq was imposed by the Nepali government in 2004 after 12 of its citizens were killed.

A reporter from Gulf News, posing as an employee from a manpower company, got in touch with the company representative from Nepal, and was surprised about the risk factor involved in the entire operation.

The company representative started off asking the reporter in broken English and Hindi how she got his contact number.

She told him she also had his brother's number and the name of the recruitment agency his brother ran in Nepal.

He said, "Are you looking for Nepalese labour? It's risky. I can arrange for it only if you are interested. It is illegal to recruit people to work in Iraq. You can talk to me."

When the reporter insisted on getting in touch with his brother in Nepal he said, "You won't be able to get in touch with him for a while now. He has gone to Afghanistan with some Nepalese labourers."

In reply to a question on whether it was legal to recruit Nepalese labourers to work in Afghanistan he said, "No, it is all done undercover. We have our network there."

Asked why the men in Sharjah were not going to Iraq, he said, "I did not get my commission from the agent in Nepal. I was told the men had money on them but they do not. They now have to look out for themselves. If you want to take them, think about it and let me know. We can then strike a deal."

Madhuban Prasad, Charge d'Affaires, Nepalese embassy in Abu Dhabi, said, "It is illegal to recruit people for Iraq. There is a travel ban. The government is strict about this issue and has issued orders to take action against any violations."

"These 19 men should immediately get in touch with the embassy and register a complaint. I am sure they did not come directly from Nepal but through India. This is because we have an open border with India," he said.

An estimated 20,000 Nepalese are employed in Iraq as security men, drivers, helpers and cooks, according to diplomatic sources.

A Nepalese driver can earn up to $400-$600 in Iraq (Dh2,203).