Nepalis in Qatar

Nepalis in Qatar are migrants from Nepal to Qatar, mostly migrant workers and permanent residents, as well as their locally born descendants. As of May 2017, 400 thousand Nepali Citizens lived in Qatar as migrant workers, Nepal is the second largest expatriate community in Qatar.^[2][3][4] While there are Nepalese working in the business and administrative sectors of Qatar, most workers from Nepal fall under the umbrella of unskilled labor, and hold jobs in sectors such as construction and landscaping (trading and contracting or sub-contracting companies). Many workers from Nepal are hired to work on the construction of stadiums and railways that are being designed for the 2022 FIFA World Cup to be held in Qatar. According to Time Magazine, due to the terrible working conditions in Qatar, a Nepali worker dies every other day.^[5]

In October 2019, the Emir of Qatar approved two amendments in support of migrant labor After giving one month's written notice, employees are now free to leave their jobs under the new legislation. The second reform establishes a 1,000 QAR minimum monthly wage as well as company-provided allowances for food and lodging (300 and 500 QAR, respectively). Regardless of the nationality, everyone is subject to this pay system. The 750 QAR temporary wage was superseded by the minimum wage system, however some nationalities already had greater minimum wages. A minimum wage of 900 QAR was reportedly already paid to Nepali workers. Amnesty International acknowledged these reforms but according to them these reforms should be regularly reviewed to secure just and favorable conditions for the workers.^[6]