KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The high number of Nepali workers dying in Malaysia is worrying officials at the Nepal embassy, which said, 46 of them took their own lives last year.
The embassy’s second secretary, Pratik Karki, said, “The 46 who died last year were among 284 Nepali workers; 49 out of 298 died in 2019, and 45 out of 347, died in 2018. “We get an average of about four deaths a month, so this is worrying.”
They were not sure if the COVID-19 pandemic’s restriction of movement and delays in returning home were contributing factors.
He felt that some of them could have resorted to suicide because of the frustration of not getting what they were promised before coming here to work.
“Nepalis are basically assertive people and their culture is to speak up for their rights and demand what is due to them. This could have gotten them into trouble with their bosses or colleagues and caused frustration and depression,” he said.
Pratik said that the workers should be given an honest briefing including a psychological guide on the pressures of working here before leaving Kathmandu.
On a related matter, Pratik said, there were still about 22 bodies yet to be repatriated, and the Nepali Airlines had promised to help by taking back a few more bodies on each of their Kuala Lumpur-Kathmandu flights, which operates three times a week.– NNN-AGENCIES
