(C) OpenDemocracy This story was originally published by OpenDemocracy and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Fake visas and complex databases: Tech’s role in exploiting migrant workers [1] [] Date: 2026-02 When I first left Nepal to work as a salesman in Saudi Arabia, my contract said my new employer would provide accommodation. It didn’t state what kind of accommodation, but I didn’t give it much thought. I assumed it would be reasonable, perhaps a shared room offering basic dignity. On arrival, I found I was expected to sleep on the floor of one room with five other people. At that moment, I realised that the problem was not only the company’s treatment of its migrant workers, but also my own lack of clarity and awareness. My contract had been vague, and I did not know how to ask the right questions. That day was the start of my understanding of how important it is for migrant workers to have information, clarity, and awareness. Since then, I have worked closely with migrant communities across South Asia, the Gulf, and Southeast Asia, delivering training and awareness programs on workers’ rights, employment contracts, digital safety and fraud risks. Get our free Daily Email Get one whole story, direct to your inbox every weekday. Sign up now Above all, these experiences have taught me that exploitation is often not violent or visible. It is digital and financial, and it’s usually hidden inside everyday systems. Migrant workers’ lives are no longer shaped only by borders, visas, or airports; they are managed by platforms, contracts, data systems, financial tools, and social media. If workers do not fully understand what is written – or not written – in their contracts, they unknowingly accept conditions that directly affect their dignity and well-being. If data is recorded incorrectly, workers pay the price. If awareness is missing, years of hard work can disappear silently. Take Nepal. Like many other countries across the world, its government increasingly promotes digital systems as solutions to migration problems. The Department of Foreign Employment runs a database for Nepali workers leaving the country for foreign employment, which stores everything from a worker’s pre-departure approval to their final clearance, as well as data such as their salary, company name, job position, and even family contact details. In theory, if the correct data is entered, it is linked to other systems, such as the Social Security Fund. But if details such as email addresses, phone numbers, or employment information are incorrect, inaccurate data moves across systems and creates long-term problems. In practice, I have seen many cases where recruitment agents or agencies enter incomplete or incorrect information, either accidentally due to poor digital literacy or negligence, or internationally to speed up processes, bypass requirements, or align records with recruitment or employer interests, often without the worker’s informed consent. This means migrant workers often do not know what data has been uploaded under their name, nor do they understand the consequences of errors. When problems arise abroad, the system protects the paperwork – not the person. Technology itself is not the main problem; lack of awareness and accountability is. When workers understand how these systems work and insist on correct data, the same technology can become a tool for protection. Harder than leaving? Returning Two realities often ignored in migration policy: migrant workers have a limited earning window and little financial literacy. Most migrants work abroad for a fixed number of years. Employment contracts end, renewals are uncertain, and many workers are abroad without their children or families. Over time, this family separation, combined with visa limits, job insecurity, health concerns, or the need to care for ageing parents, pushes workers to return home. But while they are living away from home, workers face long working hours, family pressure, rising expenses, and emotional stress. Saving and investing are often postponed. Many think, पहिले कमाउँछु, पछि सोचौँला – first I will earn, later I will think. But ‘later’ often comes too late. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/fake-visas-tech-role-exploiting-migrant-workers/ Published and (C) by OpenDemocracy Content appears here under this condition or license: Creative Commons CC BY-ND 4.0. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/opendemocracy/