Скачать или смотреть NewsNetworkToday: NEPAL: WOMEN ABUSED AS FOREIGN WORKERS (UNTV)

NewsNetworkToday: 04 January 2010 - UNTV: Nepal - Almost half a million women working overseas each year are from Nepal. The money they send home is supporting their families but sometimes the women are cruelly exploited.

SOUNDBITE (English) Bijaya Rai Shreshta, teacher:
I dont think I would have been the main breadwinner if I had not gone for foreign employment.

Bijaya had been working as a school teacher but her wages were low. She left Nepal and went to work in Japan for 2 years. Her earnings there helped fulfil her lifelong wish.

SOUNDBITE (English) Bijaya Rai Shreshta, teacher:
My dream was to educate my sons in a good school. I think I have fulfilled my dream because I could educate my sons in an English-medium school. And now they are doing good.

Like an estimated 420,000 Nepali women currently working abroad, Bijaya sent her earnings home making a large contribution to the family finances.

SOUNDBITE (English) Bijaya Rai Shreshta, teacher:
When I think of the day I left my youngest son in the airport, I still feel bad. It was not my choice to migrate. I had to go there for the sake of my sons.

SOUNDBITE (English) Bijaya Rai Shreshta, teacher:
My youngest son didnt want to talk to us on the phone because he was angry.

SOUNDBITE (English) Bijaya Rai Shreshta, teacher:
Most of our women workers are illiterate. So they have no choices.

SOUNDBITE (Nepali), Usha Rai, villager:
He has never sent a cent.

SOUNDBITE (Nepali), Usha Rai, villager:
I didnt know whether I should eat with that money or educate my children with it or pay off my debts. I was panic stricken.

SOUNDBITE (Nepali), Usha Rai, villager:
I dont know what to say - I have to say that I CAN to provide a ray of hope. But I dont know how I will educate him.

SOUNDBITE (English) Sharu Josh, UNIFEM:
These women proved themselves, they are contributors, they are economic actors, they have strengthened household economy as well as national economy.

SOUNDBITE (English) Sharu Josh, UNIFEM:
Our main priorities now are the legal protection of women migrant worker.

Mohan Krishna Sapkota is Director of the new Nepali Department of Foreign Employment, responsible for the new law.

SOUNDBITE (Nepali) Mohan Krishna Sapkota, Director, New Nepali Department of Foreign Employment:
The government provides them with a compensation and recovery package of 25-40% of their investments.

SOUNDBITE (English) Bijaya Rai Shreshta, teacher:
We have to fight for our rights. Migrant women workers also have their rights. There is a future, but it will take time. .................................................................................... ( UNITED NATIONS TELEVISION: UNTV ) (UNITED NATIONS FUND FOR WOMEN: UNIFEM ) ....................................................................................NewsNetworkToday:
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