Indian labourers making gold ornaments take home Rs.5 billion

KATHMANDU: Around 45,000 Indian nationals are employed in jewelry workshops across Nepal and they remit more than $ 71 million to India annually, according to a trade body.

Nepal's jewelry business is dependent upon Indian labourers as some 75 per cent workers in the jewelry workshops of Nepal are Indians and most of them are from West Bengal, according to Nepal Gold and Silver Traders' Association.

These Indian workers, earn on an average Rs.10,000 per month and they are remitting some 5 billion Nepalese rupees or $ 71.4 million to India every year.

Some Indian workers even work over time and earn upto Rs. 20,000 - 25,000 per month, he informed.

As the Nepalese workers are not attracted to this profession, Indian national have dominated the field, informed Tej Ratna Shakya, president of the association.

As the Indian Goldsmiths are skilled the Nepalese jewelry traders are mainly dependent on the works performed by the Indians, he added.

There are around 6,000 jewelry shops across Nepal at present. Nepalese labourers work in the traditional Nepalese style while making gold ornaments, which has less demand in the current market.

The Indian goldsmiths are acquainted with the new techniques and the jewelry items made by them have high demand in Nepal. Nepalese laborers doe not possess such skill, he added.