Dubai, February 22:

United Arab Emirates (UAE) has almost completed the process of laying off workers after the global financial downturn hit there.

Within two months, most of the workers will be jobless as their employer companies plan to shut down.

Many Chinese companies in Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are preparing to close and many Nepali workers will have accept untimely retirement.

Of the 190,000 Nepali workers here, most are employed in Chinese companies. Few are in local Arab companies but those there are job secure.

Including Nepali, Sri Lankan, Indians and South Koreans are likely to be the victims of the recession. The UAE government has told all enterprises not to admit new workers.

Some Nepali women workers stranded in the UAE have been rescued and sent back to Nepal. The Nepali embassy in Riyadh of Saudi Arabia recently rescued nine women stranded there for six months.

Manju Sarki, Durga Devi Khatri, Mina Dhakal, Sanisha Chemjong, Tara Thapa, Maya Lama, Sundara Chhetri, Sushila Sitaula and Parbati Adhikari will be returning after their release from various places.

Two other women, Uma Bhujel and Ramati Paudel, who were in custody and subject to fighting a case in court have been declared innocent.

After the decision, they have shown interest in staying on and working in the UAE.

Two other women, Dawa Kheldu Lama of Sindhupalchowk and Maya Bhujel of Morang, have taken refuge in the embassy.

Meanwhile, 15 Nepali workers, who were left in the lurch for a long time, have finally got a new lease of life with their Qatari company restoring their jobs and paying their old dues. This week, the project chief of the company went to the Doha-based Nepali embassy and gave a written promise to re-hiring the Nepali workers in their previous jobs.

First Secretary at the Nepali embassy, Ram Kaji Khadka, said the authorities in the presence of Nepali officials gave 40,600 riyals to each Nepali worker at the rate of 700 riyals a month.

The company also pledged to pay the salary of the Nepali workers every month and provide accommodation within two months, Khadka said.

“In the event of failure to implement the agreement, the company has assured of providing air tickets and facilitate the 15 workers’ safe return to Nepal.

The Nepali embassy and agent Uttar Kumar Limbu, who brought them in Qatar, mediated between the Nepali workers and the Qatari company.