Ambika Khanal, a 25-year-old aspiring foreign worker and a single mother of two from Panchapuri-6 in Surkhet district, visited the Korean Agency with hope in her eyes, seeking to fly to Korea. She had already paid her agent Rs. 90,000, trusting that it would secure her a job with a Korean company. However, the agent then asked for an additional Rs. 90,000 for further paperwork.
The agent assured Khanal, “Your ticket to Korea will be confirmed once this payment is made.” Unfortunately, the agent manipulated individuals by offering false hope, causing them to each pay sums of Rs. 1 lakh or more.
Khanal reflects, “Who would willingly leave their home, family, and country to work far away if not to secure a better life for their children?”
More than 150 people, including Khanal, are enticed by agents promising foreign employment opportunities. Many of these individuals lack skills, are unprepared, and lack proper documentation and knowledge of safe migration practices.
Caritas Nepal has stepped in to educate people who previously seemed indifferent about legal procedures, government documentation, job specifics, vacancy announcements, company names, and other crucial information related to foreign employment. They’ve made these aspiring migrants aware of the risks associated with unsafe migration.
Later, when Khanal and her friends attempted to contact the agent, they discovered that the agent had closed their company and vanished. They, along with other hopeful foreign workers, had taken out loans with exorbitant interest rates of 40 to 50 percent per month and are unsure how to repay them. Khanal ponders, “But how can I provide for my children now?” with a deep breath.
Despite the prevalence of such incidents in the district, the relevant authorities have failed to take action against those responsible and provide justice to the victims. Currently, people are seeking assistance from local agents to recover their lost funds.
Through Caritas Nepal’s SAMVAB project, hundreds of people in Panchapuri VDC have been saved from falling into the traps of illegal agents via an awareness program conducted within the project’s framework.