The Cost Of Migration

Malaysia offers hundreds of thousands of Nepali people opportunities: a job, regular pay, and a chance to support their families back home. However, beyond the flow of remittances and the number of people recruited lies a different story Nepal can no longer turn a blind eye to: What cost do Nepali workers pay to be allowed to work in Malaysia?

According to Suhakam, Malaysia’s Human Rights Commission, between 2018 and May 2024, 2,214 Nepali migrant workers have passed away in Malaysia. Among the leading reasons for their deaths were suicides and serious health problems, such as heart attacks. As there are about 400,000 Nepali workers in Malaysia, these figures should not be regarded only as statistics. Every one of those deaths means that someone has lost a parent, son/daughter, and husband/wife.

In today’s era, migration has been deeply entrenched within the economy of Nepal. Remittances from the migrant workers finance the livelihoods, educational needs, and health needs of individuals, keeping their economy running. However, in the economic significance of migration, one must not forget the realities of the lives of the workers themselves.

These complaints are certainly alarming. There have been reports of passports being confiscated, salaries not being paid, and working without rest for long periods ranging from 30 days. These are not administrative issues; rather, they make the worker highly vulnerable in his new environment, where he is completely dependent on his employer.