Nepal asks for US help to legalize Nepalis' stay in Iraq

KATHMANDU, July 27: Nepal has expressed its readiness to the US to review its ban on export of Nepali workers to Iraq and to take necessary measures to legalize the status of Nepalis working in the war-torn country if they are allowed to continue their stay even after the August 9 deadline.

Foreign Secretary Dr Madan Kumar Bhattarai conveyed Nepal´s willingness to lift the seven-year ban during his meeting with US Ambassador Scott H DeLisi at his office at Narayanhiti on Monday, according to an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). [break]

The meeting was held in light of the July 20 notice of the US CENTCOM Contracting Command in Iraq to illegal Nepali workers to leave Iraq by August 9. The Command, while issuing the notice, warned that illegal Nepalis and Filipinos should quit Iraq within 20 days starting July 20.

In the meeting, Bhattarai also conveyed Nepal´s concerns in regard to the notice and asked for the US help to create a situation whereby Nepali workers will not have to return. He, according to the official, also highlighted the consequences of the abrupt mass return of remittance earners on the already weak Nepali economy.

"He also told the ambassador that Nepal is ready to take necessary measures to legalize the status of illegal Nepali workers if the US is positive on the case of the Nepalis," the official said.

A ban on travel to Iraq is in place since 2004 following the killing of 12 Nepalis by Islamic militants. Attracted by good salary, Nepalis continued to go to Iraq through illegal channels despite the ban and the passport having "not valid to travel to Iraq" notice. Government officials say that these workers first reach Iraq´s neighboring countries before being trafficked to Iraq.

Says can lift ban on labor export to Iraq

Proposes steps to legalize Nepalis´ status

Envoy to US to meet State Department officials

Around 200 Nepalis have already left Iraq

Manpower agencies asked to help Nepalis return to their former employer countries

Durga Bhandari, deputy chief at the Nepali embassy in Islamabad, which is following the issue, quoted Nepalis in Iraq that the CENTCOM will consider Nepalis´ case if the government immediately lifts the ban. He said that around 200 Nepalis have returned home following the notice.

After his meeting with the US envoy, Bhattarai apprised Prime Minister Madav Nepal of the CENTCOM notice.

In view of the urgency of the matter, the ministry has also asked Nepali ambassador to the US Dr Shankar Sharma to discuss the issue with officials concerned at the US State Department in Washington.

"We are trying to meet with the State Department officials to discuss the issue," Sharma said over phone.

The government has mobilized all its diplomatic channels with the hope of creating a situation whereby the Nepalis will not have to return from Iraq.

At home, two government agencies have also asked manpower agencies concerned to cooperate with the government to repatriate them to their former employer countries.

Issuing a joint public notice on Monday, Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) and Foreign Employment Promotion Board (FEPB) have urged ´manpower agencies and stakeholders concerned´ to extend cooperation to send the workers to their earlier employer companies.

"We are in favor of lifting the ban on sending workers to Iraq for immediate purpose. However, we are of the view that there should be review on loopholes in government mechanism that failed to check the uncontrolled departure of workers to Iraq," Purna Chandra Bhattarai, joint secretary at the labor ministry said.

According to Bhattarai, the government is studying the background on which India lifted a similar ban in May this year and the polices adopted while taking the decision. It has also started probe into how such large number of Nepalis managed to reach Iraq and manpower agencies involved in sending them to Iraq.

In addition, the ministry is also contemplating whether lifting the ban will yield desired results.

Meanwhile, government officials are concerned about the situation that may unfold if the CENTCOM does not listen to Nepal´s plea. A senior official at the MoFA said that the government will not be able to bring all its citizens working in Iraq to home in the remaining 14 days.

"It is next to impossible to bring such a large number of Nepalis back to home in the remaining time," the official said.