MP Bhagwati Chaudhary Urges for Transparent and Regulated Visit Visa System

Kathmandu – CPN-UML lawmaker and former minister Bhagwati Chaudhary has called on the government to make the visit visa system more transparent and well-regulated. Speaking during a special session of the Federal Parliament, she highlighted the growing physical, mental, and legal challenges faced by Nepalis who travel to Gulf countries, including the UAE, under visit visas.

Rather than imposing a blanket ban, MP Chaudhary emphasized the need to regulate and formalize the process to prevent exploitation. “The number of Nepalis being cheated through visit visas is increasing. People are forced to pay hefty sums to agents, fail to get the promised jobs, and face legal trouble abroad, where even rescue becomes difficult,” she said, urging the government to take responsibility in facilitating the rescue and support of such individuals.

Chaudhary recently attended the Second International Women Parliamentarians and Changemakers Conclave in Dubai, where she interacted with Nepali migrant workers. She shared that many workers reported not receiving agreed wages or job roles, suffering abuse, and facing severe legal issues.

She warned that banning visit visas altogether would only empower human traffickers and intermediaries further. Instead, she called for a system that is both legal and transparent. Moreover, she advocated for sending Nepali women abroad as domestic workers only through the Government-to-Government (G2G) model to ensure their safety and prevent trafficking and abuse.

Chaudhary also recommended using terms like “caregiver” or “housekeeper” instead of “servant” when referring to migrant domestic workers to help improve societal perception toward Nepali laborers abroad.

She further drew attention to the issue of children born to unmarried Nepali migrant workers abroad. Due to lack of documentation, many women are forced to give birth at home in unsafe conditions and cannot return to Nepal with their children. She urged the government to provide humanitarian and legal support to address this pressing concern.