Why Nepali migrant workers are being buried in Iraq instead of home
Summary
Nepali migrant workers who die in Iraq are often buried there due to the prohibitive cost of repatriating their bodies home, leaving families to perform final rites from afar. Policy gaps and lack of labour permits for domestic workers complicate the situation further.
Key Points
- Nepali migrant workers who die in Iraq are increasingly being buried there as their families cannot afford to repatriate their bodies.
- The repatriation cost ranges from $3,200 to $6,000, which is beyond the reach of most families.
- Policy gaps exclude Nepali domestic workers from labour permits, leaving many without legal protections in Iraq.
- The Nepali government and embassy have been urged to create funds and amend policies to support repatriation and legal protections for all workers.
