Nepali men working in photo studios here are far from happy with their savings, leading Nepali news portal myrepublica.com reported yesterday.
Like most youth who came here in search of jobs, Belal Ali, 27, from Putalibazar- 9 of Syangja has many frustrations to share.
“Neither does my own country offer me a job opportunity nor do I have enough money to start my own business back home,” Ali, who has been working at the electronic gadgets counter of a studio for 10 years, said.
He was just 17 when he made his passport mentioning his age as 18 because he had to get some work abroad to look after his family.
“I was a student and had a dream of completing education. But then, I had to shoulder family responsibility,” said Ali, adding, “my dreams were shattered as I had to leave everything behind”.
His aging father and the responsibility of looking after a younger brother and sister made him leave the village.
Ali is one of many Nepalis working in photo studios across Qatar. Except for the monthly salary of QR1,200, which is about Rs24,000 in Nepal, he gets no bonus or allowances.
He is one of the highest earning Nepali workers working in a studio.
With not even a single day off, workers in the studios work for about 11 hours a day.
“I have to be conscious even while eating so that I don’t get late,” said Shukra Lamsal, 39. He gets a half-an-hour break for lunch.
A father to two children, Lamsal earns QR1,050, which includes his allowances for lunch and dinner. On an average, QR300 is spent for lunch and dinner.
“I hardly save Rs12,000,” Lamsal who worked as photo printer in Pokhara before joining the job in Qatar said.
Lamsal said the person who arranged job assured him of at least Rs25,000 in savings a month. But now he feels the studio job in Pokhara he did for 19 years is far better.
“But I cannot return unless I honour my two year contract,” Lamsal, who has worked for a year, said.
He has not even been able to pay back the Rs30,000 loan he took to come to Doha. “My salary is spent on the school fees of my children, rent and household expenses.”
No different is the story of Abhishek Shrestha, 29, from Biratnagar-2. He had never planned on going abroad as he owned his own photo studio in his home town.
“I used to make a profit of Rs10,000 a month. But the unstable political situation and increasing load-shedding made me move abroad,” Shrestha said.
He said though he did not find the job as assured by the agent, he will continue for 16 more months as he has debts to clear.
Shrestha spent Rs65,000 to get the job. Having done a special photo designing course, he works basically as a photographer in a studio in Qatar. He earns QR1,050 that includes QR250 for food.
Dipendra BC from Binamare-5 of Baglung paid Rs70,000 to get a job in a studio here. He earns QR1,200.
“I feel bad that I left my studies to come here and did not get the salary I was expecting,” BC, who was a intermediate level student before coming to Doha, said. “Yet I have no choice because I have to support my family.”