M: How did you find out about a job in Croatia and decide to come here?

D: Actually, I first heard about Croatia a long time ago. I wanted to come here to work, to better my life. That’s why I came. And now I’ve been here for almost five months. I work for Bolt Food as a delivery man. It’s okay. I like it. I will try to work here in the future, also.

M: You would like to stay longer?

D: Yeah, longer. But... Something about life here is hard. Because we are new here, you know, we’re still fresh. But let’s wait and see how things will go in the future.

M: When you say it’s hard, do you think the job is hard, or is it about meeting people?

D: Well, there are many, many points. The job is also difficult. People too... Some people are very, very good. Some people are nice. But the youth in Croatia... I’ve been attacked four times. Two times in Novi Zagreb, behind Avenue Mall, then one time in Dubrava, and one time in Maksimir. The problem is that sometimes people place their orders at one address, but when we’re going to make a delivery there, they are not at the location. They stay hidden in the woods, like a small jungle area. And they call us: ‘Come here.’ Then when we reach them, suddenly there are ten people like this [gesturing people surrounding him]. If I don’t give them the food, they will beat me up [gesturing a punch]. Three times I’ve had that happen to me.

M: Three times?

D: Three times.

M: Wow, I’m so sorry.

D: The last time was just two weeks ago now. I was delivering in Novi Zagreb. They were teenagers, maybe 14 or 15 years old. Teenagers are a big problem.

M: I’m so sorry.

D: Yeah, this is the thing. The teenagers here are very, very bad.

M: Cruel.

D: Yeah.

M: I’m so sorry. Does that make you feel scared of doing your job?

D: Sometimes, when it’s raining or when going very far to deliver to a home. On these occasions, in my experience, it’s dangerous. They are- how to say... They don't behave well, so yeah… It depends on the people, but teenagers give us a problem. Big problem. If we see a group, we have to get away from there. Otherwise, they will- I don’t know what they will do, but yeah…

M: Yeah, I understand. Did you try to report that to the police?

D: No. I just try to call Bolt support. They told me: ‘No, no, you have to move from there. Run, run, run.’ Like that.

M: And they provide no other support?

D: Nothing. Nothing. After that, I called my company. They also say: ‘You just move from there. The people are like that. If there are young people, like teenagers, don’t say anything. You just move from there.’ They just say that.

M: They give you no support.

D: Because we have no options. We have to save ourselves. That’s why we give the food away if we’re in a situation like that. Then you’re alright. Even one or two minutes of discussing with them is a big problem for us. I had that four times.

M: And it’s always different places and different people?

D: Yes. One time, some people passed by during an attack and saw what was happening to me, but because I am from Nepal, they weren’t thinking, ‘Oh, he has a problem. We need to help him.’ No.

M: They just passed by.

D: Yeah, they just left. Sometimes in Zagreb, when it’s busy earning time, and we’re riding where there’s the tramway line, we sometimes fall. I also fell one time. It still hurts me here. [shows his hand] That time, too, nobody helped me.

M: So you feel a lot of racism here.

D: Yes. That's the main problem. Especially if teenagers are around, there is a big, big problem for us. For everybody who is doing delivery work, not just me. That’s the big problem.

M: Have delivery workers from Nepal and other countries discussed this issue? Do you talk with each other about this problem?

D: Yeah, but it’s like this. These delivery jobs — someone is from Nepal, someone from Bangladesh, someone from India, and other countries also. They don’t want to help each other.

M: People from different countries?

D: Yeah, yeah. Because they are from different countries. If there is a Nepali person there, of course, he will come to help me, but Indian people and Bangla people could also be there, but they wouldn’t want to help. If I’m there, I don’t care which country you’re from — I would help. I must help! But this happens because we’re in another country.

M: Do you think other people also experience this kind of violence as well and don’t report it to the police?

D: Yes.

M: Because of fear?

D: Yes. Never. One time, I was very scared. One of my friends has now moved to another country, but we used to work in the same company and live in the same house. He was on his bike, trying to drive, when suddenly one guy in a car almost ran into him from the rear side, coming like this [gesturing how the car turned directly to hit the person in the other lane]. He fell. He had multiple fractures, so he didn’t work for maybe one month. After that, he left Croatia. Because he doesn’t like the fact that nobody wants to help here! Just hit and run.

M: In these scenarios, if somebody gets injured and cannot work, do the agencies or Bolt provide any support?

D: Bolt is doing nothing; it’s just our company. They compensate us with medical insurance, so if we get injured and go to the hospital, it’s free.

M: And do they pay for the month you can’t work?

D: Yeah, yeah.

M: They pay the usual salary?

D: Yeah.

M: So your friend left because he didn’t like the racism and this mentality here?

D: Yes, yes. Most of the people here are like that. I’ve been attacked in four different scenarios, and Croatian people — no one ever came to help me.

M: And how does your usual work day or week look like? Do you work seven days a week, six days a week?

D: Thirty days a month!

M: Wow, all day, every day?

D: Yeah, all day, every day. It’s hard work, but we came here to earn money. In this situation, even one day with no road, that’s our loss. Because this is another thing, there are different ways to work in the delivery system. Some Bolt people work for a salary, but we are not on a monthly salary. Our salary is per day. If you work, you don’t lose. But if you don’t work, the loss is yours that day.

M: Yeah, you don’t earn any money.

D: Yeah, yeah.

M: Do you earn a fixed daily rate, or does it depend on how many hours or deliveries you make?

D: It depends on how your company is organized. Some people have organized shifts and one day or half a day off once a week, but not in my company.

M: So it really depends on just the hours that you work?

D: Yes. How much you earn depends on how much you work every day.

M: And are you satisfied with the money that you’re earning?

D: Yes. Now it’s a little bit harder, a bit of a struggle, you know? I guess in the future it will be better, right? But right now, it’s not what I expected here.

M: Aha. And what were your expectations? How did you find out about the job? Was it through a friend?

D: Yes, it was through a person I know. Before, I was a driver in the Emirates.

M: Taxi or?

D: No. It was also delivery, but not like this, not like Bolt. It was a personal delivery company.

M: Were you there for a long time?

D: I was there for maybe 12 years.

M: A long time. How did you like life there?

D: It was good, but my dream was to come here. And that’s why I moved from there.

M: And how did that go?

D: I first moved back to Nepal, then came here.

M: And your friends and family — do they also work in foreign countries?

D: My younger brother is still in the Emirates. But my family is there in Nepal. They are at home. So it’s just my brother in the Emirates and me here, in Croatia.

M: And did you come with friends or alone?

D: I came here with my friends. We were four friends who came together on the same day. Now, two of them have already moved.

M: Moved back?

D: No, in other countries. So now it’s just the two of us. Personally, my dream is here. I want to work whatever I can here in Croatia. That’s why I came. I don’t want to go anywhere else. But let’s see what the future will bring.

M: And how did you choose to work as a delivery person?

D: Well, my work in the Emirates was the same, so that’s why I chose delivery. It seemed easy for me. So it’s good, but the only thing is that sometimes I’m feeling... When the attacks happened, I started thinking: ‘Wow, this is a really dangerous job.’

M: So, would you like to switch to another job in the future? What would be your dreams and wishes?

D: Currently I’m just trying to keep this job, even if I’m unsatisfied. I won’t change it. Work is work, so let’s see. I’m waiting for my time. If Bolt Food are not satisfied with me in the future, I’ll change my job. I’ll try to succeed in life however I can.

M: Having a job that isn’t too stressful is important.

D: Yeah, so we are now getting used to Croatia. We have our family back home, so that’s why.

M: Can I ask you how old are you?

D: Yes, of course! I’m now 40 years old.

M: So do you have a wife and children back home?

D: Yes, I have a wife in Nepal. I have two kids—two sons! The last one is now a toddler, and the first son is in elementary school.

M: Compared to the salaries in Nepal, does this money significantly help your family sustain themselves? Does your wife also have to work back home?

D: No, she is a housewife; she’s taking care of the children.

M: Does your wife also want to move here?

D: Yes! Yes, of course. If my job here is good work and everything is… I will, I must help my wife and family also. I must. But it will take some time.

M: Yes, for sure. Croatia is definitely not a cheap country.

D: Yes, of course. I think so, too. The food is not that cheap here. It’s more expensive than in the Emirates.

M: Do you miss anything from home?

D: Yes, always! Have you been to the Nepali Association?

M: Actually, no! I would love to visit. How is it there?

D: Because I’m also new here, every day I’m only thinking of work, work, work! But I need to-

M: Relax!

D: [laughs] Yes!

M: And meet friends.

D: Yes, meet friends.

M: Do you celebrate holidays? Did you meet a lot of new friends?

D: No, no, not yet. Because this beginning, this-

M: It’s too much work.

D: But after a few months, I will be enjoying everything here. [laughs] With friends! With my culture.

M: Do you have any free time for yourself?

D: Well, it’s difficult to find it, but if I do have some time, I just go out somewhere, have a call with my family, some chatting and a video call, and then finish that day.

M: Are there any places in your town where you can just go hang out and meet people?

D: Only one — the Sunday market! Sometimes I go there in the morning time. It’s really cool there. I enjoy it there a lot! Because there’s a lot of people there! Ahh, it’s really awesome there! But the next day, there is nothing. Nothing. Especially after we finish our work, at about 10 p.m. Some time 11 also. And my home is very far from here. There’s a dark, dark road. Because there is no light, we don’t go alone when we’re going back home. It’s all dark, and we don’t want to risk being attacked. You never know where the dangerous people are. We see them every day. That’s the problem.

M: So, do you make plans to meet with your colleagues and friends who live with you at one point and then go back home together?

D: Yes, not alone. Never go alone. Every day we meet in one place, like a petrol station, for example. We gather there, then go home together. That way we’re safe. If you go alone, you cannot say you are safe. After 9 o’clock, it’s better to avoid problems.

M: And was it hard for you to even find accommodation?

D: Yeah. We were trying to move to a new location, in the centre. But the rules are very, very different here. If I move from my place in the suburbs to a new location, I would need to change everything! Because everything requires documents.

M: With the police?

D: With the police, yeah.

M: Do these documents also cost money?

D: Yes, of course. That’s the problem.

M: How much is it? To change the address for example?

D: Actually, I don’t know because the company has provided everything to us until now.

M: Oh, they found accommodation for you.

D: Yeah, so I don’t know, but last month we were trying to move to a new location. So then, immediately the morning after moving in, the police came there. They charged us a 60 euro fine.

M: Why?!

D: Because they required documents for the new location. And because we don’t know what the rules are here. We were inside the police station for almost 6-7 hours. They came in the early morning, 6 o’clock. We all were sleeping at that time. Then the police came knocking: ‘Hi, police, police, police!’ Then we open the door and hear: ‘Show us your documents! Of your location. When did you move here?’, like they are asking. ‘Yes, sir, we just moved here yesterday, so the company will send the documents. They will know.’ They said: ‘Okay, okay, if you have them, show me! Otherwise, you have to go to the police station.’ Then we all went to the police station. And they just charged us a 60-euro fine. ‘If you don’t pay in one month, it will double.’ We stayed there for about two weeks, then after we returned to the suburbs. There was no other option. If the company would change all the documents, again, it would be too expensive.

M: Ahh, you would have lost your work permit in the meantime?

D: Yeah, I’d lose my permit, everything. In the end, the company managed all that. ‘I’m sorry for that. If we change everything, your city, permits, everything, you would have to wait.’ Because of the permit — it’s not immediately there. You need to wait for it for one or two months. So it was best to go back to the same place. At least for now, we’ll see in the future.

M: You plan on changing the accommodation before the next permit? Before you have to prolong it?

D: Yes, yes, we will see. ‘Just wait for this time, I’m sorry.’ It’s how my boss says.

M: But how did the police come so quickly? You said you were there for only one day. Do you think that somebody from the neighbours called the police?

D: Maybe, maybe. I don’t know. We moved on the 15th, and tomorrow, the 16th, early in the morning, the police came—bam!

M: And you said two of you now live in the suburbs?

D: Yeah.

M: Is it a flat?

D: It’s a house with three floors.

M: Oh, so you each have your floor to yourself?

D: Yeah, yeah. Our accommodation is very nice.

M: Do you pay a lot of money for it?

D: No, no.

M: Considering you live quite far away, I suppose you don’t cook lunch for yourself every day. So when you have your daily break or something, do you have your favourite restaurant to go to? What do you like to eat here in Croatia?

D: Sometimes we order in our Nepalese restaurant.

M: Ah, in Draškovićeva!

D: Yes! Sometimes we go together there, and sometimes we will make it at home also.

M: Ah, okay, and bring it with you.

D: Yeah, yeah.

M: And what do you recommend from the Nepalese restaurant? What should I try?

D: You should try one of the best Nepalese foods — dal bhat! It’s our traditional food. Then, you should try this one: momos. It’s one of our most famous foods! [Googles to show image]

M: Oh, it looks excellent.

D: You can have it with soup or without soup.

M: Is it meat inside?

D: Yes, chicken or whichever flavour you like. Suppose you like chicken, chicken; if you like beef, beef; if you like pork, pork.

M: What would you recommend?

D: I like beef.

M: I’ll have to go and try some Nepali food!

D: Please, please. [laughs]

M: And do you ever hang out with Croatian people? Do you have any friends from Croatia?

D: First is you!

M: Well, we should then go to the Nepalese restaurant together! Do you feel that language is a barrier to you in everyday life?

D: Yes, yes. When I came to Croatia, we tried to learn the Croatian language because at that time we had some free time. I went to Booksa. We learned some words, but now we don’t have time to learn. Every day it’s only work, work, work. Every day I must work 14 hours. That way I don’t have time, but we learned some words. One day — one word. Like 'dobar dan', 'hvala', 'kako ste', 'molim', 'oprosti'.

M: When you say you work 14 hours a day, is it because if you were to work less, you would not have enough money to send back home?

D: Yes. We do it for money. We don’t earn enough money if we don’t work 14 hours a day. Our company rules are that in one month, no matter what, we have to earn 800€.

M: Minimum?

D: Minimum. That is for the company. And the rest of the money — that is ours. So in one day, we need to earn almost 60+ euros. If we earn 60+ euros in one day, we will get 50 per cent. Half of the money goes to the company, and half goes to us.

M: And why is it that such a high rate goes to them?

D: I don’t know that.

M: Did they do the visa process for you?

D: Everything. Yes.

M: Okay, so they pay for you, and then you repay them through this scheme.

D: Yeah. The insurance, like that. This is for our life. Then for everything else, like house rent, vehicle rent, insurance — 800€ includes all that, plus some for the company. The rest that we earn above 800€ is ours.

M: And does that arrangement have a deadline? Let’s say you work for the company for like 2 years, and they say: ‘Okay, for the first year you have to pay 800 because we got you the papers for Croatia, the plane ticket, visa, and then after the first year we take 400.’ Or does that not change?

D: No.

M: Is this a typical kind of contract?

D: Not really typical. Before, it was very nice working for Bolt. Now, I will show you what the problem is. [opens the app] This is our app. Bolt Food apps. These are my earnings. What is the problem? Before, Bolt wasn’t like this. They just made it like this now, dividing the total gross earnings. Because this is my earning. 1000 and something. Now Bolt charges this much money [shows another category underneath gross earnings]. Almost 150€. This is for Bolt Food. Now it is very, very difficult to work.

M: Yes, because they also take more money.

D: They take more money. So Bolt Food takes 15% from us, and the company takes 10%. So the total is 25%. If I earn 2200€, then about 1400€ goes to Bolt Food and the company, and the rest is ours. I earn 700, 800. Before, it was just half-half. But now, Bolt is also charging us. So now it’s too difficult. Since March, they’ve changed the rules, the system.

M: Did they explain why? To earn more?

D: Yeah.

M: And how was it in the Emirates? Were your work conditions better there?

D: Yeah, a bit because I was delivering from my car there, but here I’m with this bicycle, so…

M: It’s already more dangerous.

D: Yeah, it’s more dangerous. If I compare today’s delivery job with the Emirates, just in terms of the job, the Emirates would be better for me.

M: Was your salary also better there?

D: Yeah, the salary was also better.

M: What was the big motivation then to move to Croatia? What were your expectations when coming here?

D: Well, I worked there for a long time—almost 12 years. I needed a change. I thought, ‘Whatever happens, I will go to Europe.’ That was in my head. Europe is Europe. I always thought, ‘One day I must go there. To Croatia.’ That’s why. Then I came here, now let’s see what happens.

M: What were some of your ideas before coming here? How did you imagine people here were, and what did you know about Europe and Croatia?

D: Some acquaintances said: ‘Okay, come to Croatia. Croatia is a good country, it’s Europe. Just come and try it for a few months. You have to travel here, then you’ll see how it goes and what you think.’ So now I’ve been working here for not long, and it’s happening! It’s life.

M: You made the decision, and you’re going.

D: Yeah. ‘One day I will go there’ — that means conviction! So, I never feel bad about my life. Whatever it takes, I will work in Croatia and make my family happy.

M: Now, when you think about it, if tomorrow you had an ideal living situation, what would your life in Croatia look like?

D: I would like to have a restaurant! I’m thinking how there are only two or three restaurants for the Nepali people here. That’s why my plan in the future is to open one restaurant in the centre area, which is the best area.

M: For sure. Indian people have already succeeded; now it’s the turn of the Nepali people!

D: Yes, there’s a lot of Indians.

M: By the way, are there also a lot of women here, and where do they work?

D: I think a lot of them work in factories. In the industrial area, in manufacturing.

M: Maybe my last question would be, is it hard for you to find information in Croatia? Regarding your rights, like information about the police, schooling, education, health; in terms of how to get access to these institutions. Is it difficult to find this information?

D: [nods head in confirmation]

M: Regarding this information, what are some things that you think the state could do to make your life easier? Would you, for example, like it if you had translators working in the police or hospitals? Or some changes in the law so the Nepalese people feel safer and better in Croatia?

D: Yes, of course. Most Nepali people want to stay, but the big thing is that the rules are always changing here. The government rules, legislation. That is a bit problematic. We cannot follow everything in time because we need to work every day, every day, every day, so... It’s especially problematic if you want to change to a new job because we don’t know Croatian.

M: Yeah, if I remember correctly, you have to stay in one job for about a year before you can re-apply.

D: Yes, yes. Afterwards, if I want to change to a new job, I can’t do it quickly because I must wait a month or two. This is the problem. Most of the Nepali people here are working in delivery. They have the same problem. And most of them don’t know how to speak Croatian. They also don’t speak English, so they don’t know how to explain the issues and rules to each other very well.