Approximately 5,000 Nigerian women are reportedly stranded in Iraq after migrating to work as caregivers, according to a report by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, cited by Rudaw News Agency.
Many of these women endure harsh conditions, with some cases ending in unexplained deaths.
Efforts are currently underway to repatriate the body of a recently deceased caregiver and investigate the circumstances surrounding her death.
The commission has highlighted the risks of irregular migration, urging Nigerians to pursue safer, local opportunities to avoid exploitation.
Reports suggest that many workers are smuggled into Iraq through Gulf countries without proper documentation. The Iraqi Workers Union estimates that of the nearly one million foreign workers in Iraq, 70% lack legal work permits.
Although Iraqi labor laws mandate that employers cover the travel and repatriation expenses of workers, especially in cases of death, enforcement remains inconsistent.
Migrants employed in sectors such as construction, domestic work, and security often face forced labor, low wages, and substandard living conditions, as noted in the United States 2024 Trafficking in Persons report.
