Kathmandu, December 4:

Ramesh Lekhak, minister of state for labour and transport management, handed over a cheque of Rs 3.7 million to Tara Rokka Magar, the wife of deceased Durga Bahadur here today. Three CC, a Qatar-based construction firm has provided it to the family of Durga Bahadur Rokka Magar, who died on duty in Qatar.

Late Magar had gone to Qatar as a construction worker on April 2 this year through a local manpower-recruiting agency Al-Karim Overseas Consultant. He died in an accident on April 12. He is survived by a wife, two sons and two daughters.

“It’s a laudable effort by a local recruiting agency,” said minister Lekhak, adding that responsibility of manpower agencies do not end at just recruiting and sending a worker. He also admitted that the government has not been able to fulfil its liabilities in ensuring and protecting rights of migrant workers.

Nirmal Gurung, managing director of Al-Karim Overseas, claimed that the compensation amount paid is one of the highest. “Requesting not to generalise all foreign employment agencies as fraud,” he said that the foreign employment sector has

been defamed because of some handful frauds with an ill intention of quick-profit making.

Ganesh Man Lama, president of International Forum of Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs stressed on the need of creating job opportunities back home rather than promoting foreign employment.

Tirtha Bahadur Gurung, first vice-president of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies, said that the conflict between the government and manpower agencies has hit the families and relatives of those who have died or inured in work abroad. He also asked the government to make works at the department of foreign employment transparent.

Dil Prasad Pokharel, president of Republican Foreign Employment Entrepreneurs, asked the government to raise insurance of a migrant worker to Rs 5 million from current Rs 5,00,000.