Migrant Workers' Fate After Qatar World Cup

As the Qatar World Cup concludes, it marks the end of a significant construction project that relied on hundreds of thousands of migrant workers. Over the past 12 years, these laborers, primarily from Nepal, took on arduous jobs amid often perilous conditions, driven by the need to provide for their families back home. Many of them, like Ganga Bahadur Sunuwar, found themselves trapped in a system of debt, with exorbitant recruitment fees and restrictive work practices that frequently held their passports. Sunuwar developed occupational asthma from his time working in a steel factory in Qatar and returned home, though he now faces new challenges delivering water instead. Other workers, like Kumar, faced abrupt job termination, leading him to participate in protests against unfair labor practices, yet they often fear repercussions for speaking out. Each day, thousands of Nepali workers depart for overseas jobs, but their return carries the grim reminder of those who have lost their lives on the job. Reports indicate an alarming average of three to four bodies arriving at Kathmandu airport daily, highlighting the ongoing risks in pursuit of better opportunities abroad. Although the quest for international work is often viewed as a necessary step due to lack of opportunities at home, it creates an endless cycle of separation and debt for many families. The stories of these workers underscore a harsh reality: they are caught in a trap of economic necessity versus workplace safety.