Five Nepalis rescued from Myanmar brought back

KATHMANDU: Five Nepalis rescued from Myawaddy, Myanmar, and brought to Bangkok via Mae Sot have been safely repatriated to Nepal.

According to the Embassy of Nepal in Bangkok, four Nepali men were returned to Nepal on December 17 with assistance from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Thailand, and other NGOs, while a Nepali woman was sent to Kathmandu on Tuesday.

Issuing a statement on Tuesday, the embassy urged Nepalis to seek foreign employment only after obtaining labor approval from the relevant agency in Nepal and to avoid traveling to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand under false promises of lucrative jobs.

On Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a travel advisory warning Nepali citizens against falling victim to fraudulent job offers in these countries. The ministry stated that criminal groups have been trafficking Nepalis to Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, where they are subjected to forced labor, including long working hours, physical abuse and non-payment of wages.