Dr Ayushman Bhagat (Lecturer in Political Geography), in cooperation with The Women's Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC) in Nepal, has launched a new research project, entitled "Tracing Deaths of Nepalese Migrant Domestic Workers". The project aims to investigate the deaths of Nepalese migrant domestic workers in the context of their labour relations. It will also examine the consequences of government policies and practices on the families of deceased labourers.
The researchers emphasise, that "the government of Nepal estimates that each day, two to three dead bodies return home to Nepal from other countries. Whilst causes of death include workplace accidents, traffic accidents, suicides, and murders, deaths are often categorised as natural causes without undergoing adequate investigation, resulting in the denial of compensation to bereaved families." In response, some labour-exporting countries (including Nepal) have implemented measures to protect their migrant workers.
These protections include migration bans, regulation of the recruitment industry, the provision of safe migration training, and assurance of compensation in case of fatalities. However, some NGOs raise concerns regarding the accessibility of provisions like compensation, as the existing framework primarily benefits "formal" migrant workers who are registered with the government and pay welfare taxes. Acknowledging this context, the project aims to question exclusionary policies and practices, "ensuring justice prevails in the face of workplace deaths, as well as to foster transformative dialogues between stakeholders".
The project has been funded by a BRIEF Award (Brunel Research Initiative and Enterprise Fund). It is currently being conducted in cooperation with the Women's Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC) in Nepal, a leading feminist organisation in Nepal. The project includes the involvement of Sulochana Khanal, Programme Manager at WOREC and Sunita Mainali, the organisation's Executive Director.
In January 2025, Dr Bhagat and Ms Manali published an article in the Nepali Times which addresses the policy challenges facing female migrant workers in East Asia. They highlight that the government of Nepal is preparing to lift the migration ban on domestic work, starting with a pilot Bilateral Labour Agreement with the United Arab Emirates. While lifting the ban is a victory for advocacy groups, human rights organisations, and scholars, the authors of the piece highlight new challenges for public policy and make a strong argument for counting and legalising all existing Nepali domestic workers abroad through Nepali embassies and consulates.
The authors also emphasise the exploitation and deaths of female migrant domestic workers, who are "ignored due to the grip of patriarchy, class, and caste on Nepal's labor and migration policies." Dr Bhagat and Ms Mainali recommend that the government expand its welfare net – such as providing insurance coverage – to safeguard workers and their families in worst-case scenarios.
In September 2024, Dr Bhagat also published a policy brief, entitled Reducing Vulnerability to Exploitation of Nepali Migrant Domestic Workers. One of Dr Bhagat's key recommendations was to "address the Nepali migrant domestic workers’ vulnerability to becoming stranded and exploited, the migration ban should be lifted, alongside initiating legally binding negotiations with countries employing these workers".
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