Pandemic Returns: Aspirations and Capabilities of Nepali Migrant Workers

• In Event: Migrant Workers and Sending State Relations

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in large-scale return of temporary labour migrant workers to their home countries, many had to leave without full payment of their salaries and endure lockdowns without any income or support. The pandemic also triggered a global economic downturn, leaving migrant workers in precarious conditions for longer times.

This presentation presents findings from our research in Nepal, where we followed 150 pandemic returnee migrant workers from various destinations to Nepal with 4 semi-structured interviews over a 2-year period. We discussed issues related to their past migration pathways, their return and future aspirations. We conducted the first round of interviews May-Aug 2022 (150 returnee migrants), the second round in Dec-March 2023 (128 returnee migrants), the third round in July-Aug 2023 (90 returnee migrants) and the final round is expected to be completed between Jan-Feb 2024. We had a representative sample with migrants from all 7 provinces of Nepal, who had returned from the Gulf Cooperation Countries (from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Oman), India, Malaysia, Lebanon, Korea, and Jordan.

This paper will analyze and present the findings from the interviews on issues related to mobilities/immobilities and the aspirations and capability of returnee migrant workers post pandemic.

Author

• Richa Shivakoti, Toronto Metropolitan University