Nepali government to increase compensation for workers' families

Muscat: Relatives of Nepali migrants working abroad will be given up to OMR10,000 by their home government in case the worker dies while in employment, under a new social welfare and insurance scheme.
Currently, the amount is around OMR5,000. An official of the Nepal embassy confirmed the move and said they were waiting for the official communication from the capital city, Kathmandu.
“It is in the final stages. Once implemented, it would be a blessing for the migrant workers,” the official added.
Of the nearly 13,000 Nepali workers in Oman, 90 per cent earn between OMR100 and 150.
Currently, a Nepali migrant worker’s family get OMR1,000 as compensation from the Foreign Employment Promotion Board if he or she dies in a foreign country, and an additional OMR2,000 from the employer company under insurance policy.
Last week, the government made an announcement in Nepal, saying a migrant worker would get OMR7,000 under health insurance and an additional OMR2,500 under a welfare scheme. As per the announcement, a migrant worker’s family will be entitled to OMR3,700 under life insurance, OMR720 as lost income, OMR360 for funeral expenses, OMR360 for transporting the body of the dead worker, and OMR1,800 in case of fatal diseases.
The government has also decided to provide an additional OMR1,500 as part of the compensation provided by the board.
Additionally, a migrant worker suffering from any disease categorised as fatal would get OMR1,800 for treatment.
The diseases characterised as fatal include cancer, kidney failure, multiple sclerosis, major organ transplant, coronary artery bypass grafts, aorta graft surgery, heart valve surgery, stroke, myocardial infarction, first heart attack, coma, total blindness, paralysis, benign brain tumour and mental illness due to accident.
DB Chhetri, the regional coordinator of Non-Resident Nepal Association, said they have been fighting for such measures for a long time.
“It’s a welcome move on the part of the government. Most of the time, the migrant worker is the sole bread winner for his family. When something happens to him, the family lands in trouble. Such support will help the family to move on,” Chhetri said.