What your family can claim if something goes wrong abroad

Nobody likes to think about it. But every worker who goes abroad through the official system is also building a safety net for the family back home. Knowing what it covers can make a hard time a little less hard.

You already contribute

When you get a labour permit, you pay into the Foreign Employment Welfare Fund:

• Rs 1,500 for contracts under three years
• Rs 2,500 for contracts of three to ten years

You also buy compulsory term life insurance for two years at a time.

What the family can receive

• If a worker dies abroad, the Welfare Fund pays the family Rs 1,000,000. This was raised from Rs 700,000 by a Cabinet decision in October 2024.
• The life insurance pays up to Rs 1.4 million on top.
• According to the Foreign Employment Board, the total support including other benefits can be more than Rs 2.4 million.
• If a worker is injured or falls seriously ill, the Board helps with medical costs under its rules.

Since 2008/09, the Board has compensated the families of 14,843 workers who died abroad.

Scholarships for children

Children under 18 of workers who died, became disabled or fell seriously ill abroad, and whose family received full Board assistance, can apply for a yearly scholarship:

• Rs 12,000 a year at basic level
• Rs 16,000 a year at secondary level

Applications go through the child’s school, which sends them to the local municipality. Ask the school early, because each year has a deadline.

Where to get help

• Labour call centre in Nepal: 1141
• Department of Foreign Employment toll-free line: 1140
• Your local municipality office can help with paperwork.

Please share this with your family before you travel. The best time to know your rights is before you need them.