Kathmandu, May 14 -- Two years ago, the government imposed a ban on Nepali women taking up jobs as housemaids in the Gulf countries as part of a bid to protect them from potential exploitation. But concerns are growing, as rights activists and organisations say such a ban infringes upon an individual's right to mobility. The government, nonetheless, seems to be in a dilemma as to what it should do.

The ban was enforced as instructed by members of the parliamentary International Relations and Labour Committee, who had made a 10-day visit to the Gulf countries in April 2017 to take stock of the working conditions and other aspects.

In its report submitted in August 2017, the committee also justified banning the migration of Nepali women t...