The Cost Of Migration
Summary
Nepali migrant workers in Malaysia face abuse, unpaid wages, passport confiscation and serious health risks, even as their remittances support families and Nepal’s economy. The article calls for stronger monitoring, employer accountability and deeper investigations into migrant deaths abroad.
Key Points
- More than 2,200 Nepali migrant workers have died in Malaysia between 2018 and May 2024, according to Suhakam, with suicide and serious health problems among the leading causes.
- The article says many workers face passport confiscation, unpaid wages and excessive working hours, leaving them highly vulnerable in their jobs and daily lives.
- It urges Malaysia and Nepal to inspect workplaces more closely, hold employers and recruitment agencies accountable, and investigate the causes of migrant deaths.
- The piece argues that migration should be safe, legal and dignified, not measured only by remittances sent home.
