Saudi firm to pay 181,000 riyals to family of Nepali killed in drone strike

A Saudi company has agreed to pay 181,000 Saudi riyals (over Rs7.2 million), including end-of-service benefits and compensation, to the family of Bharat Mahato, a Nepali worker killed in a drone attack in Saudi Arabia. Mahato, from Mahottari district, had worked for the company for 14 years. “The company has agreed to pay 31,000 riyals as end-of-service benefits and 150,000 riyals as compensation, bringing the total to 181,000 riyals,” said Kabiraj Upreti, labour counsellor at the Nepali Embassy in Saudi Arabia.

“The money will be sent to the family after the necessary administrative procedures are completed.” Mahato’s labour permit had expired, making his family ineligible for financial assistance from Nepal’s Foreign Employment Board and the migrant workers’ insurance scheme. The embassy informed the company of the situation, prompting it to offer compensation. “His labour approval had expired about a year ago.

As a result, his family would not qualify for financial assistance from the Foreign Employment Board or compensation under the insurance scheme,” Upreti said.