“A long way to Europe”

Europe with its labour shortage is increasingly becoming the new destination for Nepali migrant workers but much like in the Gulf and Malaysia, they are being cheated by recruiters and sent to out-of-the-way places.

Some 38,000 Nepalis officially sought employment in Europe last fiscal year, which is about 8% of the total number of labour permits issued that year— a sharp rise from just a few years ago. Many end up in eastern European countries which, until recently, used to be a country of emigrants….

…over the years [Shramik Sanjal, worker rights organisation] has been catering to a growing number of European aspirants, who have paid traffickers exorbitant amounts for low-paying jobs in little-known East European or Balkan countries. …

Croatia and Romania are now among the most popular European destinations for Nepali workers …

A lot of Nepalis who are not able to secure jobs in new Schengen countries are increasingly shifting to other states that Nepali workers have never heard of, like Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Serbia, and North Macedonia. …

But most prospective workers lack information about where they are going, the reality of the labour market there, and are easily tricked by recruiters with false promises…