KATHMANDU, Feb 10: Thousands of Nepali domestic workers in Iraq remain in limbo as the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) continues to issue labor approvals for company employees while denying them to domestic workers, raising concerns of discrimination.
Confusion between government directives and policy decisions has left many without the legal documentation they need to work abroad.
The government had promised labor approval for Nepalis working in Iraq who return home on leave and wish to resume work, provided they register themselves. In a Cabinet meeting on 26 December last year, it was decided that workers holding official visas (residency cards) in Iraq would be eligible for labor approval upon presenting the original card and a photocopy after returning to Nepal. Yet, many workers following this procedure are still being turned away by the DoFE.
Out of roughly 40,000 Nepali workers in Iraq, nearly 80 per cent are domestic workers. Despite performing high-risk jobs, most of these workers remain without labor approval, leaving them in a legal and safety gray zone. While the Cabinet decision promised approvals, domestic workers have largely been excluded in practice.
Online service of DoFE disrupted
Both men and women work as domestic helpers in Iraq, but the DoFE has consistently refused to process their labor approvals. Even with all documents submitted, workers are forced to visit the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security (MoLESS) daily. Many who applied online or presented e-visa proof have seen their applications rejected repeatedly.
Frustration is mounting. “It’s been years since I started working in Iraq. I have received all necessary services and feel safe. If we are ready to work, why is the government stopping us? Only a few days remain before I go back, but the department has still not issued my labor approval,” said one worker, visibly anxious at the ministry.
Binod Shrestha, president of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) in Iraq, criticized the DoFE for implementing discrimination not reflected in the Cabinet decision. “Domestic workers were supposed to receive labor approval if they held residency cards, but they are being ignored. This is a serious injustice,” he said.
A year ago, MoLESS amended the “Foreign Employment Management Service Delivery Procedure” to include workers on visit visas, allowing embassies and the department to issue labor approvals until September 30, 2024, covering domestic workers as well. However, the system has failed in Iraq.
DoFE Director Khilraj Rai explained that the Cabinet decision applies only to “legalization” for workers already in Iraq with valid work visas returning to Nepal—not to new e-visa entrants. Domestic workers attempting to return with new visas fall under a different labor approval process, which the Cabinet decision did not cover.
For domestic workers, the “Domestic Worker Management Procedure in Foreign Employment” requires attestation by the Nepali diplomatic mission. Since Nepal has no embassy in Iraq, attestation must be obtained through the embassy in Kuwait. Officials say unclear policies and gaps between Cabinet decisions and existing procedures have caused widespread confusion.
Labor and migration expert Rameshwar Nepal called the exclusion of domestic workers a “serious government failure,” stressing that these workers face the highest risks and require special protection. “The government cannot ignore them saying it’s too difficult to solve. If Nepali workers suffer abroad, it reflects the state’s weakness. Intervention is essential in such high-risk environments,” said labor expert Gurung.
Citing past incidents of Nepalis killed in Iraq, experts warn that decades of unresolved domestic worker issues are deeply concerning. Without clear guidance from the government, Nepali domestic workers remain trapped in uncertainty over labor approval, legalization, and re-employment. Labor experts warn that unless the policy distinction between general and domestic workers is clarified immediately, the situation is likely to worsen.
